A Somali man accused of hijacking the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama last April has been charged with hijacking two more vessels, one of which is still being held hostage, said local
authorities on Tuesday.
Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse, who is awaiting trial in federal court in New York City, faces a 10-count indictment, including piracy, seizing a ship by force, kidnapping and hostage taking, along with charges of possessing a machine gun, as well as other offenses.
In May, Muse pleaded not guilty to piracy, hijacking and kidnapping after he was captured on the Maersk Alabama during a hostage scene in the
Indian Ocean. He has not yet entered a plea for the new charges.
If convicted, Muse faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. "Muse and others hijacked two ships before the Maersk Alabama, the
second of which is still being held hostage," the office of U. S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
In court documents, local media report, that the two ships are referenced as "Ship-1" and "Ship-2." According to the charges, Muse and
others first boarded "Ship-1," seized control and then took the crew hostage.
Muse allegedly aimed a gun at one of the hostages and threatened to kill him. He also threatened to set off an improvised explosive device near a hostage if any rescue attempt was made, according to the prosecutor's statement.
The group of Somali pirates then allegedly forced Ship-1 to meet up with "Ship-2," and tied the two together. The captains were taken prisoner on Ship-2, and are believed to still be held hostage, said the prosecutors.
It was only after taking Ship-1 and Ship-2 hostage that Muse and his group attacked and boarded Maersk Alabama. Muse "conducted himself as the leader of the pirates," according to the indictment.
"Today's indictment alleges criminal conduct that extends beyond the attack against the captain and crew of the American- flagged Maersk
Alabama," Bharara said in the statement. "Modern- day pirates who wreak havoc off faraway coasts will be met with modern-day justice in the United
States."