Somali pirates free Spanish boat for a ransom

Somali pirates have freed a Spanish fishing boat with its 26-member crew for a ransom of $1.2 million. The local authority at Haradhere port on the central Somalia coast says the money was brought in a small boat.

The pirates apparently came ashore at a nearby village, where they hired cars that took them away. The Spanish tuna fishing vessel was hijacked a week ago.

Spain has sent a navy frigate to the area and Somali troops were also trying to free the boat and its crew. There has recently been a surge in maritime hijackings for ransom in the waters off the coast of Somalia. -Reuters