MOGADISHU: Somali pirates have abandoned a hijacked lemon-laden Emirati dhow at sea after failing to use the vessel to attack other ships, security sources in Somalia’s Puntland state told AFP. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised its pirate threat level to 'severe' following recent hijackings.

Pirates seized the Bajan-flagged Honour 25 tanker on April 21 and the Syrian-pennant-waving M/V Sward on April 26, with another vessel, Eureka petrol tanker, being steered toward Somali shores.

Authorities have yet to comment on the Fahad-4.