The Royal Navy has repelled a pirate attack on a Danish cargo-ship off the coast of Yemen, shooting dead two men believed to be Somali pirates.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the incident took place on Tuesday, when HMS Cumberland crew members tried to board a traditional wooden dhow.

The Yemeni-flagged vessel was identified as having been involved in an earlier attack on the Danish ship

An MoD spokesman said the pirates were shot in self-defence.

After initial attempts to stop the dhow failed, the Royal Navy launched sea boats to encircle the vessel.

The British seamen were fired on and shot back before the dhow was boarded and its crew surrendered.

An MoD Spokesman said: "Two foreign nationals, believed to be Somali pirates, were shot and killed in self-defence.

"A Yemeni national was also found injured and later died, despite receiving emergency treatment from the ship's doctor.

"It is unclear whether his injuries were as a result of the fire-fight or a previous incident involving the pirates."

A post-shooting investigation is being carried out, the spokesman added.

Details of the incident emerged when Russian navy spokesman Igor Dygalo revealed the frigate Neustrashimy (Fearless), from its Baltic Sea Fleet, had also tried Warship's firefight with pirates

A Royal Navy warship helped rescue a Danish vessel after it was attacked by Somali pirates, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Plymouth-based HMS Cumberland and the Russian frigate Neustrashimy repelled the attempted raid in the Gulf of Aden.

The Russian Navy said the pirates fired weapons at the Danish ship and twice tried to board it before the two warships intervened.

Two suspected pirates were killed in the exchange of gunfire on Tuesday.

HMS Cumberland is currently on a NATO-led deployment in the gulf, helping to combat piracy after a recent rise in attacks on merchant shipping in the region.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "We can confirm that a UK warship carried out a boarding of a foreign-flagged dhow suspected of being engaged in piracy.

"The situation is ongoing."

An MoD spokesman said: "Prior to boarding, boats launched by Cumberland to intercept the dhow were involved in an exchange of fire.

"Two foreign nationals, believed to be Somali pirates, were shot and killed in self-defence.

"A Yemeni national was also found injured and later died, despite receiving emergency treatment from the ship's doctor.

"It is unclear whether his injuries were as a result of the firefight or a previous incident involving the pirates."

The spokesman said that, because the incident involved firearms, an investigation has been launched.

Story: BBC News