CAIRO, Egypt — An Egyptian official said today Somali pirates seized an Egyptian cargo ship with 28 crew members on board.

The vessel, called Blue Star, was carrying 6,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked and snatched after it passed through the Red Sea and entered the Gulf of Aden this morning.

Ahmed Rizq, Egyptian deputy foreign minister, said 15 armed pirates seized the vessel and are steering it toward the coast of Somalia.

A statement from Rizq said efforts are under way with "international and regional parties" to get the ship released.