Romanian National Allegedly Kidnapped In Egypt

The Romanian Foreign Ministry has not yet confirmed that a Romanian national is among the hostages, but activated a crisis cell. Meanwhile, the Romanian Embassy in Cairo has contacted Egyptian authorities for confirmation on the presence of a Romanian national among the kidnapped.

 

The Romanian Foreign Ministry added is it also working with the Italian Foreign Ministry to check the information.

 

The Romanian Embassy in Cairo told MEDIAFAX the ambassador will meet with the Egyptian tourism minister.

 

According to CNN, Egyptian security officials said up to 15 foreign tourists were abducted.

 

The group was though to include two Israelis, according to the cited source, which added the hostages may have been taken to Sudan, but the Israeli foreign minister said there are no Israelis in the kidnapped group. The Israeli official added the kidnappers have demanded ransom, AFP reported.

 

Egyptian TV said the tourists were on a bus when they were kidnapped, and the bus driver, two tour guides and a security guard were also abducted near the Egypt-Sudan border, CNN said.

 

Sky News sources said the group were on safari. The kidnappers were thought to be four Sudanese gunmen who have demanded EUR6 million ransom, the sources added. 

 

The official Egyptian news agency reported negotiations are underway for the release of a group of eleven European tourists, AFP reported. The Aswan police-chief, cited by Egyptian TV, confirmed previously that eleven tourists, namely five German, five Italians and one Romanian, and four Egyptians, were kidnapped by Egyptian bandits.