Seized tanker 'probably bound for Somalia'

London - The German chemical tanker that was hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman was probably on route to Somalia, a spokesperson for the European Union's naval mission Atalanta said a day after the attack on Sunday.

Somali pirates generally drop anchor along the coast of their own country before negotiating for ransom, the spokesperson from the mission's headquarters in Northwood, Britain.

"We assume that a day or two will pass until we know where the pirates have taken the vessel have. We are monitoring the situation," the spokesperson said.

The pirates took control of the German-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged Marida Marguerite off Oman's coast early on Saturday. The crew of 19 Indians, two Bangladeshis and one Ukrainian were doing well, according to the spokesperson. Some had managed to lock themselves in a room during the attack. - Sapa-dpa