ROME, Nov. 5 (UPI) — Two Italian nationals and a Canadian national were freed Saturday after being taken hostage in Libya nearly two months ago.
The abductees — identified as Frank Poccia of Canada and Danilo Calonego and Bruno Cacace of Italy, were kidnapped by armed men on Sept. 19 in the southwest Libyan town of Ghat, where they were working for an Italian airport maintenance company.
Global Affairs Canada confirmed the release of the prisoners. The men were released to Italy, but Poccia is being transported to Canada.
The men were thought to be in the hands of al-Qaida linked group Islamic Maghreb, which demanded a $4.5 million ransom for their return. It is unclear if a ransom was paid.
