29/10/2023–|Last updated: 10/29/202307:35 PM (Mecca time)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Sunday that the police had succeeded in freeing the mother of the Liverpool and Colombian football team star, Luis Diaz, after she and her husband were kidnapped, whom she said was also being searched for.
Petro said on the social network “X” that during the rescue operation in Barrancas (northern Colombia), “Luis Diaz’s mother was freed and we continue to search for the father.”
Colombian media reported that the parents of the 26-year-old left winger were at a gas station in their town, in La Guajira province, when gunmen on motorcycles approached them.
Police Director General William Salamanca said after a phone conversation with the player’s mother, according to a video clip he posted on social media, “Thanks to the plan that the police implemented in record time, we have already found the mother safe and sound and we are continuing to actively search for the father.”
The authority in charge of the investigation stated, “Since the Public Prosecutor’s Office became aware of the kidnapping incident, public prosecutors, police, and soldiers have been working to determine the whereabouts of these people and identify those responsible for it.”
Salamanca announced the deployment of intelligence personnel and the establishment of checkpoints.
The army said that a Black Hawk military helicopter was flying over the area to find the kidnappers and the player’s father.
Colombian police published a photo offering a reward of 200 million Colombian pesos (about 50,000 dollars) for information related to the kidnapping of Diaz’s father.
The Liverpool star’s father was a volunteer coach at the only football school in Barrancas, a town with a population of about 38,000 where his son made his debut.
There has been no comment yet on the kidnapping by the star Diaz, who has been playing with Liverpool since 2022 when he moved to their ranks from Porto, Portugal, for 60 million euros.
Liverpool issued an official statement today regarding the Diaz family being kidnapped in Colombia, and said, “The club confirms that it is aware of the crisis related to the Diaz family, and we hold out great hope that this matter will be resolved safely and as soon as possible. In the meantime, taking care of the player’s interests will remain our immediate priority.” .
In recognition of his circumstances, Diaz was excluded from Liverpool’s squad to face Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League today, and coach Jurgen Klopp said that everyone at the club is concerned about the matter.
