By Saber Ayyub.
The three kidnapped Shershari children (Photo: Social media
Tripoli, 14 January 2016:
UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler has weighed in to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the three kidnapped Surman children.
“I am deeply saddened by the continued kidnapping of the three children, all under the age of thirteen” said Kobler, “ I cannot begin to imagine the plight and suffering of their parents and loved-ones. Their case highlights that even children are not immune from kidnapping and abduction, which unfortunately has become common across Libya. I call for their safe and prompt return to their family.”
Businessmen Riyad Shershary’s two sons, Abdelhamid Mohamed aged 7, Mohamed Mohamed aged 9 and daughter Dahab Mohamed Alshirshari, 12, were seized in a hail of gunfire from the family car at a Surman traffic lights on 2 December
Three days ago it was thought that the kidnappers were surrounded at a property in Surman. In the resulting stand-off three members of the kidnap gang were reported to have been killed and others arrested. This led to the unexpected and short-lived seizure of 30 hostages as part of a demand that the original kidnappers be released. These victims have since been released.