A pirate who gave his name as Ibrahim told Reuters by phone: “My men have hijacked a Spanish fishing vessel from the Indian Ocean. They are on board and safe.”

The Spanish Foreign Ministry in Madrid said it was checking the reports.

Mwangura said pirates had demanded a $3 million ransom for a North Korea-flagged cargo ship captured early last month.

The pirates were threatening to kill the 10-man Syrian crew of the Libyan-owned MV RIM, he said.