ISF Members Released after Short Abduction in Tripoli

Two members of the Internal Security Forces Narcotics Control Bureau were released at dawn Friday hours after they were kidnapped in the northern city of Tripoli, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said unknown assailants took the policemen, who were in civilian clothes, as hostages on Thursday night in the Tripoli district of Bab al-Tabbaneh.

But the ISF members were released a few hours later, the agency said.

Voice of Lebanon (100.5) quoted a security official as saying that a man from Nassour family stands behind the abduction.

“He is being pursued,” the official said.

NNA did not give details on the kidnappers and their motives. But Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said the two men were severely assaulted during their several-hour kidnapping ordeal.

They were taken to a hospital in Tripoli.

The city has been recently witnessing a rise in attacks on the Lebanese army over its clampdown on jihadists hiding in Syrian refugee encampments.

The city, whose residents are mostly Sunnis, are staunch supporters of the rebels trying to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

G.K.

D.A.