Kidnapped Spanish Crew Released

The pirates who kidnapped a Spanish fishing crew of 26 released the sailors after receiving 1.2 million dollars. International Herald Tribune

Somali pirates freed a Spanish fishing boat and its 26-member crew after receiving a ransom of US$1.2 million (€770,000), a Somali official said.

[...]

Spanish officials did not confirm that a ransom was paid before Saturday's release, saying only that there had been negotiations. But Abdi Khalif Ahmed, chairman of Haradhere port local authority in central Somalia, said ransom was paid before the pirates released the ship.

"The ship is free and the pirates disappeared into their villages," Ahmed said late Saturday.

In Spain, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said the crew and the trawler Playa de Bakio were sailing back home, accompanied by a Spanish frigate. She would not comment on any ransom.

Related Posts:

Somali Pirates/Terrorists Demand Money for Captured Spanish Sailors
Somali Forces Arrests Pirates/Terrorists