The ISIS terror group kidnapped 88 Eritrean
Christians from a people-smugglers' caravan in
Libya last week, a U.S. defense official
confirmed Monday.
The defense official confirmed initial reports
of the mass kidnapping after seeing a recent
intelligence report. The convoy was ambushed
by militants south of Tripoli before dawn this
past Wednesday morning.
Meron Estafanos, the co-founder of the
Stockholm-based International Commission on
Eritrean Refugees, said that the group of
migrants included "about 12 Eritrean Muslims
and some Egyptians. They put them in another
truck and they put 12 Eritrean women
Christians in a smaller pick-up".
Estafanos said that the militants had initially
stopped the truck and demanded that the
Muslims on board make themselves known.
Everyone who responded was asked about the
Koran and their religious observance in an
attempt to catch Christians pretending to be
Muslims.
The main body of the group was put back on the
original truck. As the militants drove the
vehicle away, at least 9 men attempted to escape
by diving off the back of the truck. Estefanos
said 3 of those who had escaped were safe, but
still trying to get out of Libya. The fate of the
others was not known.
Libya has become a jumping-off point for
thousands of migrants from the Middle East and
sub-Saharan Africa who attempt the dangerous
Mediterranean crossing to southern Europe.
However, Libya's ongoing instability has led to
an increased presence by ISIS and other terror
groups, increasing the risk for Christians and
other non-Muslims attempting the crossing.
Source: Libya Herald newspaper
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