Armed men reportedly boarded a Liberia-flagged merchant ship sailing off the Algarve coast in the early hours of Thursday, taking at least two hostages.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear, though it may be linked to “international drug trafficking.”
The container ship, named Odysseus, had departed from Vigo, in Galicia, Spain, and was bound for Málaga in Andalusia.
At least two crew members are believed to have been taken hostage in the engine room, with their condition currently unknown.
The Navy has deployed several resources to the scene—approximately 10 km from Lagos—including a helicopter with a special team ready to storm the vessel.
Authorities were alerted to the situation at around 4:15 a.m., though details have only recently become public, and the incident is ongoing.
The Navy stated that it has “no comments to make on the matter,” directing potential explanations to a “statement,” should it be deemed necessary.
