Pirates attack Japanese tugboat

Pirates attack Japanese tugboat

MANILA (Reuter): Pirates armed with guns and knives attacked a Japanese tugboat anchored on Manila Bay, stabbed and wounded its Indonesian captain and fled with cash and valuables, the Philippines navy said yesterday.

Eddie Yusod, master of the Honduran-registered Fukumaru No. 8, was wounded when he tried to fend off the bandits who stormed his vessel on Friday night, a navy spokesman said.

The rest of the crew were unharmed. The pirates fled on a motorized boat.

The Fukumaru was on its way to Jakarta but had to anchor in Manila after it developed engine trouble.