ROTA (SD) -A report on the maritime piracy threat in Somali waters released by the European Union’s naval mission, ATALANTA, has indicated a significant increase in piracy incidents in recent months.

The European Union stated that pirate attacks have resumed at a slow pace, launching attacks within 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.

“Although there have been no piracy-related incidents in recent months, the issuance of ransoms could create a new wave of piracy,” said EU NAVFOR ATALANTA.

ATALANTA operations estimate that at least two pirate groups may be considering targeting Somali waters, as they prepare attacks on commercial vessels.

European naval forces emphasized that pirate attacks remain a credible threat that could occur at any time. They stressed the importance of monitoring ships operating in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, particularly those within 700 nautical miles of the Somali coast, to enhance security measures.

In March of this year, a ship from Bangladesh was reportedly released for $5 million, marking the first ransom demand for piracy in Somalia in nearly a decade.