This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Somali pirates who abducted a journalist and held him for ransom claim they were paid a $1.6m (£1m) to release him.

Michael Scott Moore was released on Tuesday after being held captive for two years and eight months. He holds both German and American citizenship.

According to a pirate leader, identified as Bile Hussein, negotiations were conducted with Somali intermediaries acting on behalf of Germany.

A German spokesman would not confirm that money was paid and US policy prohibits paying ransoms. German federal police had worked "very closely" with US authorities to win Moore's freedom.

But a Berlin foreign ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli refused to comment on what led to Moore's release beyond saying: "The German government cannot be blackmailed.

Moore, 45, was abducted on 21 January 2012 in the Somali town of Galkayo while researching a book on piracy. He had previously freelanced for Germany's Der Spiegel.

Moore was flown after his freedom from Mogadishu to Nairobi and went straight to the German embassy. Chebli said: "Given the circumstances, he's doing well."

Der Spiegel's editor-in-chief, Wolfgang Buchner, said: "We never gave up hope and are now rejoicing with Michael and his family that this nightmare has finally come to an end."

Sources: BBC/Associated Press via CBS News