Police shoot dead pirates

By ANGELINE KARIUS
POLICE in Milne Bay have shot and killed three pirates and seriously wounding four others during a shoot-out at Morima coast in west Ferguson Island last Sunday. 
The shoot out took place at around 11am.
Milne Bay police commander Lincoln Gerari said he had deployed a team of five policemen to attend to five reports of armed robberies of personal effects, store goods, dinghies, outboard motors and fuel by criminals in the area of west Ferguson Island. 
“Upon arrival, police were attacked by criminals.
“Police retaliated, killing three instantly and seriously wounding four others,” he said. 
He added that all suspects had been admitted to Alotau General Hospital and the dead was at the morgue.
One has been discharged from the hospital and was in police custody.
Police recovered two  shotguns, home-made pistols with some loose cartridges in their possessions.
Police also recovered one 19-foot dinghy, an outboard motor and eight fuel containers from the sea pirates.
Gerari added that police acted in self-defence as the criminals were armed.
Meanwhile, police investigations are continuing into this and other related matters.