AFP said the men have arrived in the island nation after being arrested bythe Danish navy during an attempted hijacking of the 47,000–dwt tanker (built 2006) on 9November.

“Torm Kansas retaliated, managed to repel their attacks and solicitedback-up from their base to arrest the attackers," a police statement said.

The suspects, aged 14 to 35, also are believed to be behind an attack on aHong Kong-flagged vessel three days before the Torm incident, but were againrepelled by security guards.