Three European belonging to international NGOs abducted Saturday night, confirms Western Sahara authorities

Shaheed Al Hafed (Saharawi Refugee Camps) - Independent Maghreb Press Service - Three European cooperators, two Spanish citizens and one from Italy, belonging to international NGOs working in Camps were kidnapped Saturday night by terrorist elements in the Sahrawi refugee camps, said a press release of the Western Sahara Ministry of information published on Sunday.

“They victims are Mr. Fernandez COIN Aino of Spanish nationality, member of the Association of Friendship with the Saharawi people in Extremadura (Spain), Enrico GONYALONS, a Spanish citizen and member of the Spanish NGO MUNUPAT and Rossella UrruK from italy, member of the Italian NGO CCISPP,” the statement underlined.

The statement said that the kidnappers who infiltrated from the neighboring territories of Mali, “attacked the headquarters of foreigners reception (Protocol) in Saharawi refugee camps, west of Tindouf, using an all-terrain vehicle and firearms,”, adding that terrorists “took hostages and followed the same route.”

The statement confirmed that the Spanish hostage, ENRIC GONYALONS, and a Saharawi security guard have been injured in an exchange of fire, noting “the evidence indicates that it is indeed a terrorist act.”

“The Saharawi government has strongly condemned this criminal act and took all necessary measures to pursue the kidnappers,” the statement concluded.
confidential sources indicates to the IMPS that this kidnapping may be a new attempt by the Moroccan intelligence to sow distortion and to tarnish the image of the struggle of the people of Western Sahara for freedom and independence.