Somali pirates kill each other over $1.6 million ransom for journalist

Three Somali pirates were killed in a fight over the ransom paid to free a German-American journalist who was released this week after two years and eight months of captivity, a police official said Friday. The gunfight broke out in the central Somali town of Galkayo Thursday when some of the pirates who held Michael Scott Moore attacked their comrades, accusing them of conducting a secret deal with negotiators, said witness Mohamed Hassan. A top pirate commander was among those killed, he added.

One camp of pirates accused the other of betrayal.

Eyewitness Mohamed Hassan

Hassan said earlier that a ransom of $1.6 million was paid by Somali intermediaries acting on behalf of Germany. Germany’s Foreign Ministry hasn’t confirmed money was paid and U.S. policy forbids the payment of ransoms.

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