THE dad of Luis Diaz is said to have been snatched by a notoriously violent Colombian guerrilla group.
The Liverpool star’s parents were kidnapped on Saturday night by armed gunmen at a gas station in their hometown of Barrancas, La Guajira.
SuppliedOfficials said the star’s dad was kidnapped by a guerilla group[/caption]
The winger’s parents were both kidnapped in Barrancas on SaturdayPA
Authorities have launched a massive search for the Diaz’s missing dad
The winger’s mum, Cilenis Marulanda, was later found in Barrancas but her husband remains missing.
Colombia’s authorities said today that the guerrilla group National Liberation Army, known as ELN, was responsible for the man’s kidnapping.
ELN, notorious for massacres and kidnappings is aligned with the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The peace delegation of the government, which is currently in negotiations with ELN, said in a statement it was officially aware that the kidnapping had been perpetrated by a unit that belongs to ELN.
“We demand that the ELN releases immediately Mr. Luis Manuel Daz and we say as of now that they are entirely responsible to secure his life and integrity, “said Otty Patio, who leads the peace delegation.
Colombian cops believe the lair of the kidnapping gang is located in the inhospitable jungle terrain of the Perija Mountains near the Venezuelan border.
A massive police operation was launched and even sniffer dogs were brought in to locate the footballer’s missing dad.
German Shepherds Laticha and Tekila joined the hunt and Colombian police chiefs say more will be introduced as they close in on Luis Manuel Diaz’s captors.
The country’s army has already been joined by an elite police anti-drugs commando squad specialising in complex jungle operations to find the 58-year-old.
Seven potential locations have been identified by police intelligence as part of an operation to stop the captors from reaching Venezuela with their hostage.
The hunt is reportedly focusing on the banks of rivers and streams in the Perija Mountains – on the basis that the gang needs to be near water to survive.
Columbia’s Ombudsman Carlos Camargo said yesterday: “We reiterate the call to the captors of the father of our beloved Lucho Díaz: respect his integrity and life.”
Earlier this week, the footballer urged his Instagram followers to “march for the release of Mane Diaz”.
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