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Mauritanian hijack 'ends safely' Mauritanian hijack 'ends safely'
(20 minutes later)
Police in the Canary Islands have arrested a man who hijacked an Air Mauritania passenger plane, Spanish officials say.Police in the Canary Islands have arrested a man who hijacked an Air Mauritania passenger plane, Spanish officials say.
The Boeing 737 plane was seized shortly after take-off from the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott.The Boeing 737 plane was seized shortly after take-off from the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott.
It landed at a military strip in Las Palmas, where the man was held and the passengers freed, the officials say.It landed at a military strip in Las Palmas, where the man was held and the passengers freed, the officials say.
The motive of the hijacker is not known. One unconfirmed report said he had demanded to be flown to France.The motive of the hijacker is not known. One unconfirmed report said he had demanded to be flown to France.
Around 70 passengers and eight crew were on the plane, reports from Spain said.Around 70 passengers and eight crew were on the plane, reports from Spain said.
"It has been liberated," the Associated Press news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Manuel Cacho as saying. "The hijacker has been detained.""It has been liberated," the Associated Press news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Manuel Cacho as saying. "The hijacker has been detained."
The plane took off from the north-west African nation in the late afternoon.The plane took off from the north-west African nation in the late afternoon.
It was due to touch down in the northern Mauritanian port city of Nouadhibou, although it is not clear whether that was its final destination.