Fingerprints from the man matched those of a hijacker involved in the attack on the 13,300–dwt Marida Marguerite (built 2008) in 2010.

The pirate was detained in a reception centre for asylum seekers in Osnabruck, police said.

Last year, pirate middleman Mohammad Shibin received 12 lift sentences after being convicted in April on 15 charges including piracy, hostage taking, kidnapping and conspiracy.

He