Police in New Caledonia are investigating an incident off Ouvea three days ago in which armed men confronted a luxury yacht with foreign tourists.
Reports say several local men fired rifles and in scuffles injured some of the travellers who are from Australia and Brazil.
The reports say the yacht had been moored for several days after clearing their presence in traditional fishing grounds with the customary authorities.
The assailants have reportedly been identified but are yet to be questioned.
The president of the southern province Sonia Backes has condemned the attack as barbaric piracy which she says caused damage of about $US40,000.
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