French military spokesman Admiral Christophe Prazuck explained that the attack took place late at night off the Somali coast.
However, the Somme managed to repel the pirates and actually took five of them prisoner.
Admiral Prazuck was quoted on the French TV station La Chaine Info saying:
"Once they realised they were facing a ship that was responding and was heading towards them, they stopped shooting and attempted to flee," he said.
"The Somme gave chase and intercepted one of the pirates' boats. All the weapons had apparently been tossed into the sea and the suspected pirates are now being held on board the Somme."
