A Dutch court on Friday ordered 10 suspected Somali pirates to be extradited to Hamburg, to face charges of hijacking the container ship MV Taipan.

The nine men and one teenager were captured after a rescue of the ship by Dutch marines in the Gulf of Aden on April 5, 2010.

Amsterdam District Court approved their extradition after rejecting arguments by the Somalis' lawyers that they should be tried in the Netherlands.

Judge Ans Davids said the extradition could take place within 10 days, as no appeal is possible under Dutch law.

First European pirate trial

Another Dutch court in Rotterdam is currently working on the first European trial of suspected Somali pirates.

Judgement is expected on June 16 on five other Somalis, aged between 22 and 44, whose boat was intercepted in the Gulf of Aden on January 2 as they were allegedly preparing to board the Dutch Antilles-flagged Samanyolu.

Prosecutors have sought seven-year jail terms for the five men, saying they were caught as they prepared to board the Samanyolu after attacking it with automatic weapons and rockets.

The five claim they were just fishing and approached the Samanyolu for help with their hands in the air.

Author: Catherine Bolsover (dpa/AP/AFP)
Editor: Rob Turner