23 Egypt workers freed from chilling kidnapping in Libya
Xinhua, August 12, 2016 Adjust font size:
Twenty-three Egyptian workers kidnapped in Libya have been rescued and arrived at Egypt's Sallum checkpoint on Friday, Egyptian state TV reported.
"Libyan authorities handed over the freed Egyptians at the crossing and an Egyptian security delegation received them," Matrouh Governor Alaa Abu Zeid said.
The Egyptians abducted in Ajdabiya, a northeastern town in Libya, were rescued by Libyan special forces in coordination with the Egyptian intelligence service, according to the governor.
"We were kidnapped by people for ransom near the oil town of Brega," one of the freed Egyptians told the state TV reporter at the border.
He said they were held hostage for ten days.
Libya is an ideal destination for thousands of Egyptian workers, many of whom are employed in construction.
In February 2015, the Islamic State militant group published a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians abducted in Libya. Endit