The two Italian hostages that were freed in Libya, Bruno Cacace, second from left, and Danilo Calonego, second from right, leave a police station after being questioned by prosecutor Sergio Colaiocco, in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. The two had been kidnapped at Gath, Libya, on Sept. 19.
Image Credit: Giuseppe Lami/ANSA via AP
November 06, 2016 - 6:00 AM
ROME - Italy's Foreign Ministry says a Canadian citizen and two Italians who were kidnapped in southern Libya in September were freed overnight and brought safely to Italy early Saturday morning.
The ministry says the release of the three men was due to "the efficient collaboration of local Libyan authorities," but it didn't provide further details. The men were brought to Italy on a special flight.
They were kidnapped on Sept. 19 by armed and masked men who blocked their vehicle in Ghat, a city in the Sahara desert near the border with Algeria.
The ministry identified the Canadian citizen of Italian origin, as Frank Poccia, and the Italians as Danilo Calonego and Bruno Cacace.
The ANSA news agency reported they are all technicians employed by the Italian construction company, Conicos, which is doing work at an airport in Libya.
Italian media reports said the men would be speaking with prosecutors before being reunited with their families.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016