Germany calls off anti-piracy operation

BERLIN, May 6 (UPI) -- Germany has stopped an operation of its anti-terror unit aimed at freeing hostages kidnapped by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble canceled the secret operation by the German GSG 9 unit at the last minute because the risk involved was too high, German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reports. Apparently, the pirates had increased the number of watchmen present, making an attack of the ship too risky.

The GSG 9 had planned to free the 24 crew members (five of whom are German nationals) of the German-owned Hansa Stavanger vessel kidnapped by pirates off the Somali coast on April 4.

An estimated 200 GSG 9 officers had already been deployed near the Hansa Stavanger, but they were called back to Germany.

One reason for the cancellation of the mission was the veto of U.S. national security adviser James Jones, the magazine reports. The German Interior Ministry had reportedly asked the U.S. government for help because the GSG 9 lacks the necessary vessels to stage such a mission.

The GSG 9 is an anti-terror special unit of the German federal police that was created in the 1970s. It is considered to be among the best in the world.