Relative of a new group of Egyptians allegedly kidnapped by the Islamic State in Libya has now confirmed to an Egyptian news site that at least 26 Egyptians are now being held.
The kidnapping comes immediately after Egypt’s military pounded the Islamic State in Libya in retaliation for the execution of 21 Egyptians.
Masrawy news website quoted villagers in Beni Suef as confirming the new kidnappings.
Gibril al-Khouly, a resident of al-Maymoun village in Beni Suef, told Masrawy that after contacting his cousin in Libya, he confirmed to him that he was kindapped by militants along with at least 25 other Egyptians.
The newsite Libya Herald, however, earlier reported that as many as 35 Egyptians had been kidnapped in the incident. “There are reports that at least 35 Egyptians have been kidnapped in what appears to be a round-up at various locations in areas controlled by Ansar Al-Sharia and IS,” the site said on Tuesday.
The Libya Herald had said it had been told that Egyptian nationals, many of them to be farmers, were “picked up by gunmen.”
The site, however, failed to detail the source of the reports it cited and the Egyptian government has not yet given official confirmation of the kidnappings.
