Pirate claims ransom paid for Spanish hostages

A self-proclaimed pirate and a village elder in Somalia says that pirates holding a Spanish trawler and 36 hostages have been paid $3.3m (€2.2m), and are freeing the ship and crew.

A Somali villager named Ali Ahmed Salad says 12 armed pirates who have been holding the ship for the last six weeks left it shortly after noon today and joined colleagues near the town of Haradhere.

Ali Gab, a self-proclaimed pirate, says a boat delivered $3.3m in ransom. Mr Gab says pirates began leaving the ship and he believes it is free.

Mr Gab says a Spanish warship nearby watched the proceedings.

Commander John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU’s anti-piracy force, says a Spanish warship has been in the region but he could not confirm that crew had been freed.