Murderous Somali pirates kill 2 hostages in confrontation with Danish warship

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s Navy says two hostages have been killed in an anti-piracy operation off Somalia.

The navy says a Danish warship on Monday confronted a pirate vessel that it had been following along the Somali coast.

It says the Danes opened fire on the ship when its crew refused to stop. The pirates surrendered and the Danes took control of the ship.

In a statement Tuesday, the navy said there were 17 suspected pirates and 18 hostages on board the ship. It said two of the hostages were seriously wounded and “their lives could not be saved.”

The navy said it wasn’t clear how the hostages were injured.