Police rescued Spanish couple from Colombia kidnap

June 15, AP – MADRID (AP) — Two Spanish tourists kidnapped in Colombia were rescued by police Saturday as two people suspected of trying to collect a ransom were captured in Spain, officials said.

Two Spanish officers from the nation’s kidnapping unit travelled to Colombia and participated in the release of the tourists, Spain’s Interior Ministry said in a statement. The ministry did not give their names of the people who were kidnapped, but Spanish radio network Cadena SER reported that one of Spain’s leading judges identified them as one of his relatives, Maria Concepcion Marlaska, 43, and as Angel Sanchez Hernandez, 49.

The two from the northern Spanish city of Aviles had been kidnapped in Colombia a month ago. They were in good health; National Court Judge Fernando Grande Marlaska was cited as telling the station. Cadena SER published a photograph of the two wearing Colombian police vests on its website.

It was not clear who was responsible for the kidnapping. The Spanish ministry said it had ruled out the participation of Colombia’s main rebel group, FARC, and indications were that it was a criminal gang.

The ministry said that a Syrian national and a Spanish citizen were arrested in Madrid after trying to collect a ransom payment. Spain’s Foreign Minister had acknowledged on May 21 that the Spaniards had been kidnapped. Colombia’s anti-kidnapping unit said officials had found the couple’s abandoned car in Guajira state.

In Bogota, Gen. Humberto Guatibonza, the head of the police department’s anti-kidnapping unit, told a news conference that no shots were fired and no suspects were detained during the rescue operation.

Guatibonza said that the Spainards were flown to the Colombian capital, where they were met by Spanish Ambassador Nicolas Martin-Cinto. They did not talk with the media after their arrival, but gave reporters a thumb’s up signal as a greeting. Although the pair appeared to be in good health they were put into ambulances and taken to the police hospital in Bogota for a medical checkup, the general said.

Associated press journalist for human rights observers – contributed to this report.

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Category: European Crises