(Adds Greek shipping ministry, manager confirming attack)
LOME, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Pirates attacked a Greek oil tanker
off the coast of Togo on Monday and fled after taking four crew
members as hostages, the West African nation's navy and Greek
authorities said, two days after a similar attack in the waters
of neighbouring Benin.
Of the missing crew members, two are Filipinos, one is Greek
and one is Georgian, the navy said in a statement. One security
guard was also shot and wounded in the attack, it said.
"Monday, 4th of November 2019, around 0300, the tanker boat
Elka Aristotle ... was attacked around 18 kilometers (11
miles) from the port of Lome by armed individuals," the
statement said.
The vessel's manager, European Product Carriers Ltd,
confirmed the early morning attack, without providing further
details. Greece's shipping ministry said it was "closely
monitoring the issue".
While piracy has decreased worldwide, West Africa's Gulf of
Guinea is a high-risk area for abductions and armed robbery,
according to the International Maritime Bureau.
Armed guards were present on the Greek boat and tried to
fight off the attackers, but one was wounded, the Togo navy
said. An investigation has been opened.
The attack follows the abduction by pirates of nine Filipino
crew members from a Norwegian-flagged boat off the coast of
Benin on Saturday.