Somali Pirate From Minnesota Sentenced for Holding US Journalist Hostage

A Somali pirate from Minnesota has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in holding an American journalist hostage for nearly three years.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Abdi Yusuf Hassan, of Minneapolis, and Mohamed Tahlil Mohamed, of Somalia, received a 30-year prison sentence for hostage taking, terrorism and firearm offenses related to the 977-day captivity of American freelance journalist Michael Scott Moore.

Officials said Hassan and Mohamed played “significant roles in Moore’s captivity” and abused their positions within the Somali government. Hassan served as the Minister of Interior Galmudug providence in Somalia, where he was responsible for police and security forces.

Meanwhile, Mohamed was a serving officer in the Somali army.

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In January 2012, Moore was taken from his vehicle while traveling in Somalia to research piracy and the economy. {snip}

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