About 100 gunmen reportedly kidnapped at least 26 Qataris – including members of its royal family – from their desert hunting camp in Iraq, it has emerged.
The kidnappings took place near the Saudi border in the early hours of Wednesday.
Police confirmed the kidnappings and said Iraqi security forces had launched a wide-scale search for the Qataris in the area, a largely desolate expanse where armed militia groups predominate.
“An armed group driving dozens of pickup trucks kidnapped at least 26 Qatari hunters from their camp in the area of Busaya in the Samawa desert near the Saudi border,” Samawa governor Falih al-Zayady said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the mass abduction.
Hunters from various rich Gulf states often make trips to Iraq’s southern desert at this time of year.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said a group of its citizens were kidnapped in Iraq while on a hunting trip. It did not mention how many were in the group.
In a statement, the ministry said it was working with the Iraqi government to secure their release “as soon as possible”.
It added that the hunters had entered Iraqi territory with an permit from Iraq’s Interior Ministry.
-Daily Mirror
Filed under: Foreign News Tagged: Qatari royal family members 'kidnapped'
