Libyan security forces freed nine Egyptian hostages and apprehended suspects involved in their abduction in the eastern town of Umm Saad, according to the Criminal Investigation Department.
The operation followed intelligence reports about a group of Egyptians being held in a house in the Shammas area, with their captors demanding ransom from their families.
During a raid, authorities rescued the captives and arrested the prime suspect, who had been communicating with the victims’ families for ransom payments. Investigations revealed the involvement of additional individuals, including a Libyan accomplice accused of torturing the hostages and coordinating their intended transfer via dangerous sea routes.
The primary suspect has been referred to the prosecutor’s office for further investigation, while eight of the freed hostages have been transferred to the deportation unit at Imsaad border crossing for repatriation.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
