Somali pirates seized a freighter with 24 Syrian and Egyptian crew members in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, the European Union's anti-piracy force said. The Syria Star, flagged in Saint Vincent and Grenadine, radioed for help and 'reported that she was under attack from pirates who had climbed onboard and fired shots at the crew,' said the European Union NAVFOR Somalia mission. Helicopters were dispatched and tried to establish contact with the ship, which had stopped in the water, but they found only an abandoned skiff nearby containing fuel and ammunition, the force said in a statement. 'When warships arrived on the scene shortly after, the Syria Star had reversed course and was heading South East back towards the Horn of Africa under the control of the pirates, who refused to respond to radio contact.' 