The two Dutch teenagers who ran away to Spain earlier this month went of their own accord and there was no question that they had been lured away or taken against their will, the public prosecution department said on Thursday.

The department bases its statement on interviews given by the girls, both aged 16, to Dutch police since their return.

The teenagers, who come from Bergen op Zoom flew from Eindhoven to Málaga airport last Tuesday, without telling their family. They also left their mobile phones with friends.

They were found by Portuguese police on Saturday at a hotel in the resort of Albufeira in the company of a 34-year-old man with Dutch and Moroccan nationality.

He was arrested but released by the Portuguese authorities on Monday. Portugual has also rejected an extradition request from the Netherlands, saying the man had not committed any offence under Portuguese law, broadcaster NOS said.

The investigation into exactly what happened is continuing and police still want to question the man, the Telegraaf said.