Tuesday Semptember 23, 2014
Johannes Hentschel, Sabine and their son died in Yemen. Michael Scott Moore (r) was released on Tuesday.
American-German journalist Michael Scott Moore was released on Tuesday from more than two-and-a-half years in captivity in Somalia. His release came the day a German family was confirmed dead, five years after being captured in Yemen.
Spiegel Online, where Moore was previously employed, published the news on Tuesday after Germany's foreign ministry confirmed that, "a German citizen, who also has US citizenship and was kidnapped in Somalia, was freed today."
The spokeswoman declined to provide further details, notably whether he was freed by his captors, escaped or was liberated by force. He was flown to Somalia's capital in Mogadishu and taken to a safe place where he will have a medical and psychological assessment.
Moore was kidnapped in January 2012 in the town of Galkayo while travelling in Somalia conducting research for a book on piracy. He is said to be in good health, considering the circumstances.
Both the German and American foreign offices, as well as Moore's family and friends, worked to secure his release.
Der Spiegel’s editor-in-chief Wolfgang Büchner said: "We never gave up hope and are happy for Michael and his mother Marlis for whom this nightmare is finally over."
Friends and colleagues took to Twitter upon hearing the news. "Journalist (and friend) Michael Scott Moore freed after 976 days in captivity. Relieved he's coming home," said Berlin-based friend and fellow writer Andrew Curry.
Deaths in Yemen
But two German Christian aid workers and their son, who were kidnapped five years ago in Yemen have died, a relative said on Tuesday.
The couple, identified as technician Johannes Hentschel and his wife Sabine, then both aged 35, and their three young children were abducted in June 2009 in northern Yemen.
Two of the children, both girls, were freed in May 2010, but the parents and their then one-year-old son have since died, the father's brother-in-law, Christian pastor Reinhard Pötschke, said citing a letter from the foreign ministry.
Their young son is believed to have died from an infection. It is unclear how the parents died.
The news confirmed the family's worst fears, but Pötschke said there was also some relief that they could now start mourning.
Several other foreigners were abducted with the family by kidnappers believed to have links to Al-Qaeda.
The two girls, now aged eight and 10, live with relatives in the family's home state of Saxony in eastern Germany.