MADRID,(insidesomalia.org)-  A relative of one of the Somali pirates involved in the kidnapping of a Spanish fishing vessel last April said that five percent of the $1.5-million-dollar ransom allegedly paid for the Playa de Bakio crew's release went to an Islamist group.

Al Shabaab is considered by the US government to be a terrorist organization with links to Al Qaeda.

 According to the pirate's relative, Hussein Ali, the radical Islamist group also wants a cut from the money paid for the liberation of two Greek ships held in the Somalian location of Hobyo.

"Many of the members of Al Shabaab who asked for the money belong to the same clan as the pirates around Hobyo," Ali said.

The Playa de Bakio was captured and held by Somalian pirates between April 20 and 26 of this year. In all, over 30 ships have been held for ransom in the area, including Ukrainian vessels carrying tanks.