TRIPOLI, March 30
An unknown armed group has kidnapped Abdrraouf Baitelmal, mayor of the Libyan capital Tripoli, after storming his house earlier on Thursday, the city announced.
“The municipality council and residents of central Tripoli received the news about the kidnapping of Abdrraouf Hussein Baitelmal, dean of the municipality, by sabotaging groups after storming his house by force of arms and taking him to an unknown destination,” the municipality of Tripoli said in a press statement.
The statement demanded the government “take immediate and necessary legal actions for his release, while holding the concerned officials fully responsible for his safety.”
“We believe such acts directly threaten the establishment of a civil state and leads the capital to serious consequences,” the statement said.
Frank Baker, the British Ambassador to Libya, expressed concern about the kidnapping of Baitelmal.
“Very concerned about the kidnapping of Tripoli Mayor, Mr. Abdrraouf Baitelmal. Hope he’s freed safely soon. Organized crime is a big threat to Libyan people’s safety,” Baker tweeted earlier on Thursday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping so far.
