Saudi Embassy in Lebanon working to get kidnapped national freed

Beirut — The Saudi Embassy in Lebanon said that it is in contact with the Lebanese security authorities to secure unconditional release of a Saudi citizen who was kidnapped two days after Saudi Arabia’s warning to citizens about not flying to Lebanon.

Abd Al-Shamrawi, 32, was in Mount Lebanon, his residence, on Thursday evening when he was attacked.

He is married to a Syrian woman called Fasila Azir. Together they share a home in Al-Aqiba, Keserwan.

According Shamrawi’s family, the kidnappers demanded a million-dollar ransom for his release.

A Lebanese security source said that the wife contacted the security forces and reported the disappearance of her husband.

The kidnapped Saudi citizen originally hails from Qatif in the Eastern Province.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have advised their citizens against traveling to Lebanon and urged those already there to leave.

Dozens of citizens of Gulf Arab countries began leaving Lebanon on Friday.

Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said on the Lebanese state news agency the safety of Saudi residents and visitors was a priority for the Lebanese authorities.