Kenyan court convicts, sentences 7 Somali pirates

NAIROBI, Kenya — A defense lawyer says a Kenyan court has convicted and sentenced seven Somali pirates to five years in jail.

Jared Magolo says the pirates were found guilty of attacking a German naval supply ship in the Gulf of Aden on March 29 last year. Magolo says his clients plan to appeal the verdict made Monday.

The European Union anti-piracy task force says it welcomes the court's decision.

After the seven pirates attacked the German FGS Spessart last year, they were later chased and captured by the German frigate FGS Rheinland-Pfalz. That frigate handed them over to Kenyan authorities in April last year.

Before the verdict handed down on Monday, Kenyan courts had convicted 28 Somalis of piracy since 2006.