The father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz was reportedly kidnapped by left-wing rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia.
Luis Manuel Díaz and his wife were taken at gunpoint, and the player’s mother was left behind in a car as the kidnappers fled from approaching police.
Initially, authorities suspected a criminal gang’s involvement, but a government delegation engaged in peace talks with the ELN stated that an ELN unit was responsible for the kidnapping.
The ELN has indicated that they plan to release Luis Díaz’s father in the coming days.
The ELN is the last major active guerrilla group in Colombia, with a history of conflict with the state dating back to 1964.
They are most active in the border region with Venezuela, where the kidnapping occurred.
The search for Luis Manuel Díaz is concentrated in the Serranía del Perijá, a mountainous area on the Colombia-Venezuela border.
The head of the government delegation in peace negotiations with the ELN has called for the immediate release of Luis Manuel Díaz, emphasizing that kidnappings violate international humanitarian law.
The Colombian government had restarted talks with the ELN as part of President Gustavo Petro’s strategy for peace, resulting in a bilateral six-month ceasefire earlier this year.
The kidnapping has sparked outrage in Colombia, with public support for Luis Díaz and calls for his father’s release.
Liverpool FC, where Luis Díaz plays, expressed its support for the family, with manager Jürgen Klopp dedicating a recent victory to Díaz.
Source-BBC
