Five people accused of attempting to hijack a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden were taken in U.S. Navy custody following the failed attempt, according to U.S. Central Command, which covers the area of the globe between the European, Africa and Indo-Pacific commands. On Nov. 26, the USS Mason, with allied ships from a U.S. coalition counter-piracy task force and associated aircraft responded to a distress call from the m/v Central Park, a commercial vessel, stating that it was under attack by an unknown entity, according to CENTCOM. “Upon arrival, coalition elements demanded release of the vessel. Subsequently, five…