Syria, Feb 02: Eleven Iranian citizens were kidnapped while on a religious pilgrimage in Syria, state television reported on Wednesday, just days after the abduction of another group of pilgrims by an armed group in the country.
“Their bus was on its way … to Damascus when it was attacked by an armed group and 11 out of 35 passengers were abducted,” the television quoted Iranian pilgrimage official Massoud Akhavan as saying.
“The kidnapped men were transferred to an unknown location,” Akhavan said.
Gunmen in central Syria attacked another bus carrying Iranian pilgrims on Thursday and 11 passengers were abducted.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast condemned the attack as “unjustifiable” and asked Syrian authorities to secure the release of the abducted citizens.
Five Iranian technicians were also kidnapped in the Syrian city of Homs in December and Tehran demanded their immediate release.
Courtesy: World Affairs