(AFP Photo)
The Egyptian fishing boat the Al-Negma Al-Dahbeya has set sail from the coast of Yemen on Monday and is on its way back to Egypt. The boat docked in Yemen after being attacked last week while at sea.
The Egyptian embassy in Yemen said the boat was carrying 19 fishermen. The boat stayed on the Yemeni coast for 11 days, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
The Egyptian embassy had stated last week the boat was attacked and the attackers attempted to set fire to the boat, but Yemeni authorities intervened and were able to bring the boat and its crew to safety in Hadida Port on 10 March.
The embassy said the attackers were Yemeni fishermen who have had problems with the Yemeni government for years and oppose the idea of foreigners fishing in Yemeni waters.
The attackers shot at the Egyptian boat causing minor injuries to one of the fishermen. Four of the assailants were arrested.
Egyptian fishing boats are frequently captured by authorities for illegally entering regional waters of neighbouring countries. However, the Gold Star was granted permission to enter Yemeni waters, the Egypt’s embassy in Yemen said.
More recently an Egyptian boat was captured by Saudi authorities for entering Saudi Arabian waters without permission, state-run Al-Ahram reported.
