BringMeTheNews
Abdi Yusef Hassan, 56, of Minneapolis, and Mohamed Tahlil Mohamed, 43, of Somalia, were both sentenced this week to 30 years in prison for their roles in the kidnapping of American journalist Michael Scott Moore. The two were convicted of hostage-taking, terrorism, and firearms offenses in February 2023, following a three-week trial.
Moore, a freelance journalist, traveled to Somalia in January 2012 to research piracy and the local economy. On January 21, 2012, while in Galkayo, Moore was abducted by heavily armed men. The kidnappers, including Hassan and Mohamed, held Moore for 977 days, during which time he was moved across various locations, including a hijacked ship where he was kept with 28 other crew members.
Hassan, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former minister of the interior in Somalia, played a key role in the kidnapping, coordinating efforts to extort a ransom from Moore’s family. Mohamed, a Somali army officer, was responsible for guarding Moore in the early stages of his captivity and remained involved in his hostage situation throughout the ordeal.
The sentences bring to a close a case that highlighted the international nature of modern piracy and the efforts of U.S. law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.
