ISF Intelligence Pursue Suspect in Seven Estonians Kidnapping

Internal Security forces intelligence division pursued one of the suspects in the kidnapping of the seven Estonians, the National News Agency reported on Sunday.

An ISF patrol tracked down overnight one of the main abductors linked to the kidnapping of the seven Estonian cyclists who were captured at gunpoint on March 23 in Bekaa valley.

Clashes erupted during the pursuit and an exchange of fire took place where the suspect H. H. was injured, however, his companions helped him to flee to an unknown place, the NNA said.

Later on Sunday, Al-Manar television reported that “an Intelligence Bureau unit raided the house of H. al-Hujairi in Ersal to arrest him on charges of harboring the abductors of the seven Estonians.”

“However, the force exchanged gunfire with Hujairi, who was severely wounded before he managed to escape. Security forces believe he died of his wounds later,” Al-Manar added.

The cyclists were freed in July almost four months after armed men abducted them as they entered the country on a bicycle tour from neighboring Syria.

They had appealed for help in videos posted on the Internet in April and May. The first video was uploaded in the Syrian capital Damascus, investigators determined.

In the videos, the men did not present any demands on behalf of their captors nor specify what country they were in.

A third video was emailed to several of their relatives in June.