Madrid  - The Spanish frigate Numancia intercepted and arrested nine alleged pirates suspected of attacking the Italian cruise ship MS Melody, media reports said.

A French and an Indian warship, as well as a helicopter and two surveillance planes also participated in the operation, which took place Sunday north of the Seychelles.

The alleged pirates were detected near the position were the attack on the MS Melody took place late Saturday. The attackers abandoned one of their two boats, which was found by the Indian warship Nirdeshak.

The Numancia pursued the pirates and after their arrest handed them over to the Seychelles' authorities, as the pirates were detained in Seychelles waters.

Six pirates armed with automatic rifles attacked the cruise ship with 991 passengers and 536 crew on board Saturday evening, but the MS Melody, owned by Italy's MSC Crociere SA was able to fend them off, with security personnel returning fire.

According to Campain Ciro Pinto, the ship was slightly damaged, but none of the passengers suffered any injures. The attack happened about 330 kilometres off the Seychelles on the open sea about 1,100 kilometres from the Somali coast. (dpa)