Singaporean kidnapped in Egypt released and unharmed
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1207937/1/.html
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean tour leader volunteered to follow a group of armed men when they wanted to kidnap a few members of his tour group in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Friday.
Mr Vincent Toh said this in a phone interview with Channel NewsAsia on Saturday morning, hours after he was released by his abductors.
Mr Toh, who was leading a group of 20 Singaporean tourists, said armed men in two vehicles stopped their vehicle when they were travelling from Sinai to Cairo.
Mr Toh said the men were carrying guns.
He said when the men boarded the bus to "get some people", he volunteered to go with them as he was the leader of the group and wanted to ensure that the tourists would be safe.
He said the men tied him up and drove him to an undisclosed location.
Mr Toh said his kidnappers spoke little English.
"They just said Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! In fact, I was just following their instructions," he said.
He said he was released about eight hours later and is now at the El Arish, which is on the Mediterranean coast of northern Sinai.
Mr Toh, who visited Sinai regularly, said his tour members were very scared.
Reports quoted Egyptian security officials as saying that the armed gunmen are Bedouins, demanding the release of one of their tribesmen arrested for possessing drugs.
Mr Toh said he was aware that the Bedouins were hoping to exchange him for one of their tribesmen.
"They didn't take my things. They treated me OK," he said.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Saturday morning that Mr Toh and his group were intercepted by armed men.
MFA said the gunmen abducted Mr Toh but did not harm the other Singaporeans, who arrived safely in Cairo.
MFA said Mr Toh was released a few hours later, with the assistance of the Egyptian authorities.
The Singapore Embassy has been working closely with the Egyptian authorities.
A member of the embassy's staff has been sent to accompany Mr Toh from El Arish to Cairo.
The ministry said in view of the current situation in the Sinai peninsula, Singaporeans should avoid any overland travel to the Sinai area.
- CNA/wm
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1207937/1/.html
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean tour leader volunteered to follow a group of armed men when they wanted to kidnap a few members of his tour group in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Friday.
Mr Vincent Toh said this in a phone interview with Channel NewsAsia on Saturday morning, hours after he was released by his abductors.
Mr Toh, who was leading a group of 20 Singaporean tourists, said armed men in two vehicles stopped their vehicle when they were travelling from Sinai to Cairo.
Mr Toh said the men were carrying guns.
He said when the men boarded the bus to "get some people", he volunteered to go with them as he was the leader of the group and wanted to ensure that the tourists would be safe.
He said the men tied him up and drove him to an undisclosed location.
Mr Toh said his kidnappers spoke little English.
"They just said Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! In fact, I was just following their instructions," he said.
He said he was released about eight hours later and is now at the El Arish, which is on the Mediterranean coast of northern Sinai.
Mr Toh, who visited Sinai regularly, said his tour members were very scared.
Reports quoted Egyptian security officials as saying that the armed gunmen are Bedouins, demanding the release of one of their tribesmen arrested for possessing drugs.
Mr Toh said he was aware that the Bedouins were hoping to exchange him for one of their tribesmen.
"They didn't take my things. They treated me OK," he said.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Saturday morning that Mr Toh and his group were intercepted by armed men.
MFA said the gunmen abducted Mr Toh but did not harm the other Singaporeans, who arrived safely in Cairo.
MFA said Mr Toh was released a few hours later, with the assistance of the Egyptian authorities.
The Singapore Embassy has been working closely with the Egyptian authorities.
A member of the embassy's staff has been sent to accompany Mr Toh from El Arish to Cairo.
The ministry said in view of the current situation in the Sinai peninsula, Singaporeans should avoid any overland travel to the Sinai area.
- CNA/wm
