Four Indian Nationals Kidnapped in Libya

Three of the kidnapped Indians were faculty members at Sirte University in northern Libya, and the fourth was employed at the university’s southeastern branch, the Indian Foreign Ministry said.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) – Four Indian nationals have been kidnapped in Libya, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

"We came to know that at 11 pm [21:00 GMT] four Indians who were returning to India through Tripoli were detained at a check point near Sirte," Vikas Swarup said at a press conference.

In a statement issued later, the spokesman said three of the kidnapped Indians were faculty members at Sirte University in northern Libya, and the fourth was employed at the university’s southeastern branch.

"According to information available through our sources, all the four Indian nationals have been brought back to the city of Sirte," Swarup said.

He added that the ministry maintains regular contact with family members and is doing everything it can to ensure the quick release of the four kidnapped Indian nationals.

Last week, the Italian Foreign Ministry said four of its nationals, all employees of an international construction company, had been kidnapped in western Libya. In June, 10 members of the Tunisian consular staff were abducted in the Libyan capital of Tripoli but later released.

According to the United Nations, kidnappings based on origin, political or religious affiliation are frequent in Libya and performed primarily by extremist groups.