(Bloomberg) -- Danish special forces have killed four suspected pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, south of Nigeria, the Danish Armed Forces said in a statement.

The frigate Esbern Snare on Wednesday responded to alerts of increased pirate activity in the area, where the vessel has been deployed to protect private trade ships. Special forces approached a small motorized vessel with eight people on board who then opened fire. The Danish troops returned fire, killing four and wounding one, while the small vessel sank. The remaining three suspected pirates are in custody.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was scheduled to visit the frigate on Thursday as a part of her trip to Ghana.

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