Yemen: More Kidnappings of Westerners

By Larry Habegger | Permalink | No Comments | January 3rd, 2006 | Trackback

Five Italian tourists were kidnapped a day after a former German diplomat and his family were released unharmed from a four-day kidnapping. These incidents followed on the heels of the abduction of two Austrians in December who were also released unharmed. The incident with the Italians was the fifth kidnapping in a year and the third in less than two weeks. In all incidents the tourists were taken to be used as bargaining chips by tribal groups in conflict with the government. Usually victims are released unharmed, but in 1998 four tourists were killed when security forces tried to rescue them. That incident was unusual because the kidnappers were Islamic militants with ties to al-Qaeda. In December the U.S. State Department warned against travel to Marib and Saada provinces because of tribal tensions.

Home » Middle East/Persian Gulf, Scams/Crime, Yemen, Persian Gulf, Security issues

If you found "Yemen: More Kidnappings of Westerners" useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at any of the following sites: