Istanbul, Jan 16 : The crew of the Turkish frigate Goekova Saturday captured six Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden after an Indian trading ship came under attack, Turkish media reported Saturday.

The Anadolu news agency citing Turkish military said that after the six men in a boat fired upon the Indian ship Jal, a Turkish military on patrol in the area sent in a helicopter and special forces to ward off the attack and capture the pirates.

Piracy is rampant in the waters near Somalia, which has not had a functioning government since 1991.

The European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and several non-European states have contributed warships to the region to protect international shipping and aid transports.(DPA)