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-   -   Italian Kidnapped In Algeria (Feb 2011) (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/north-africa/italian-kidnapped-algeria-feb-2011-a-55313)

Dave The Hat 4 Feb 2011 00:22
Italian Kidnapped In Algeria (Feb 2011)
 
Scant news, but found this in Echrouk:

الشروق أون لاين - English

Richard Washington 4 Feb 2011 09:04
From the same source that DTH quoted:
"
Informed sources have revealed to Echorouk that Italian tourist was kidnapped last Wednesday in southern Algeria, just in a remote region of 170 km from Djanet. "
Elsewhere it is reported her name is Maria and she is 53.

Richard Washington 4 Feb 2011 09:33
If the report is valid, I would guess this incident happened in the Tadrart, far east and only 60km or so from Niger. Why only one tourist though? And why a woman when AQIM normally prefer to retain men.

Richard Washington 4 Feb 2011 11:06
Looks to be a real incident. She has been taken to Niger - either Djado or N.Tenere I'd guess.
From Italian press:
AGI News On - ALGERIA: ITALIAN TOURIST KIDNAPPED IN THE SAHARA DESERT

AGI) Algiers - A 53-year-old Italian tourist, Maria S., was kidnapped in south Algeria, 170 kilometres from Djanet, the newspaper Echourouk reported citing "secure sources". The woman had arrived in Algeria on 20 January and was supposed to return to Italy on 22 February. The newspaper sources believe she has been transferred to the Republic of Niger and that terrorist groups operating in that area may be engaged in the kidnapping.
The Crisis Unit and the Embassy in Algiers are checking on the incident. .

Richard Washington 4 Feb 2011 11:52
Other reports now adding some details.

The incident happened near Alidema, near the Tadrart (Alidema is famous for rock arches) -roughly 23deg 30 S, 10 deg 32 E (those figures are my guess, they are not reported). Two toyotas and 14 bandits - Algerian guide and driver subsequently released. Bandits reported to be in Niger now.

priffe 4 Feb 2011 11:54
Algérie: une touriste italienne enlevée au sud de Djanet - Actualité - El Watan

Quote:
An Italian tourist was kidnapped in the night between Wednesday and Thursday by a group of terrorists in the region Alidena, located 250 km south of Djanet, a source of the wilaya of Illizi, contacted by the APS.


The tourist, aged 56, was a client with the tourist agency "Ténéré" for a stay of 14 days, the first week was spent in the region Tadrart, it was reported.

On the eighth day, she went to Djanet to refuel, before being taken by terrorists armed with automatic weapons, aboard two all terrain vehicles, sources said. The group consisted of about fifteen people, according to other sources.
...
The terrorists then allowed their hostages to use their cell phone (Thuraya), to warn the boss of the agency Ténéré in Djanet, who immediately alerted the security services, the source said. A search operation is conducted by the security services and the PNA across the region of Tassili, the source said.
Worst thing that could happen for tourism in Algerian south. That has already seen dwindling numbers of tourists TOURISME MAGAZINE N°27/JAN-FEV 2011 v_2

priffe 4 Feb 2011 12:46
Do you think the gendarmes have any control of the Tenere border?
Not much traffic, two vehicles could be easy to spot with surveillance.
Why would they let the guide alert the agency? These bandits would need all the head start they could get, no? Long drive ahead.
Do you think there really are any aqim active in the Djanet/Tassili n'Ajjer or even the whole Illizi wilaya? Or aren't these more likely opportunistic bandits looking for something they can sell.

Richard Washington 4 Feb 2011 13:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe (Post 322745)
Do you think the gendarmes have any control of the Tenere border? .


There is a permanent military camp on the NW edge of Adrar Mariaou near 23deg 40S, 9 deg 52E which I've run in to on two separate trips. In the first we were chased and stopped by the Gendarme. In the second case, the base had no vehicles (but had 40 hungry looking personnel). This is 60 km away from Alidema and in the direction of Djanet, so I don't think these guys could help.

Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe (Post 322745)
Not much traffic, two vehicles could be easy to spot with surveillance.
Why would they let the guide alert the agency? These bandits would need all the head start they could get, no? Long drive ahead.
Do you think there really are any aqim active in the Djanet/Tassili n'Ajjer or even the whole Illizi wilaya? Or aren't these more likely opportunistic bandits looking for something they can sell.


The spot is well chosen - its a quick dash to Djado from there. Why alert the agency? Hell these guys do some funny things.

Are these AQIM or Djado bandits? The last episode I know of near here involved four germans who set out from Djanet to Chirfa. They were nailed across the cut-line just inside Niger by Djado bandits who let them go in one car after a few days and plenty of rough treatment (the German's camped right next to us in Zeribas before this happened). I doubt Djado bandits would allow that warning Thuraya call to go out. And before they have operated in smaller groups. 14 in two toyotas sounds AQIM to me - as does letting the driver and guide go free.

Dave The Hat 4 Feb 2011 13:40
BBC News - Italian woman tourist abducted in Algerian Sahara

priffe 4 Feb 2011 15:27
UPDATE 1-Italian woman kidnapped in Algeria-official media | News by Country | Reuters

Quote:
ALGIERS Feb 4 (Reuters) - An Italian woman on a tourist trip to the Sahara desert in Algeria has been kidnapped by al Qaeda insurgents, Algeria's official news agency and a government security source said on Friday.
...
The source said security services believe the kidnappers were a group of local young men who had been in prison and joined AQIM soon after they were released five or six months ago.
badbadbad for Djanet

priffe 4 Feb 2011 15:42
Rescue under way?
 
Sahara tourist 'kidnapped by al-Qaida' | World news | The Guardian

Quote:
The woman was kidnapped on Wednesday night in the desert south of the town of Djanet, the official agency reported. It said a major operation, involving security services and the military, was under way to find the woman.

priffe 4 Feb 2011 15:55
Sud de l'Algérie: premier enlèvement d'Occidental depuis 2003 - Dépêches - El Watan

Quote:
This is the first Westerner to be kidnapped since 2003 in this area Algerian Sahel

gagarin 4 Feb 2011 16:26
Too bad, too sad.
Almost 8 years without problems and now this incident - definitely won't help tourism in le Grand Sud.

priffe 4 Feb 2011 19:54
Gunmen kidnap Italian woman tourist in Algeria - World news - Africa - msnbc.com

Quote:
An Algerian security analyst said the kidnapping did not fit in with al Qaeda's usual mode of operating, which suggested the hostage-takers may be smugglers.
"This would be the first time that al Qaeda has kidnapped a woman alone," said Samer Riad. "This is against (Islamic) sharia rules. We wait to see if al Qaeda ... claims this action."

priffe 6 Feb 2011 06:43
L'Expression Edition OnLine

Quote:
An extensive military action research and investigation is being conducted in southern Algeria in an attempt to trace the Italian national abducted last Wednesday at 170 km from the town of Djanet in the wilaya of Illizi. The latest were reports until yesterday that was reportedly taken hostage by kidnappers in Niger.
...
Security sources have told us that the group of a certain Abd El Karim, who has joined the GSPC a year ago, after negotiating with the notorious Abu Zeid, who is behind the kidnapping.
Ennahar Online - An Italian tourist kidnapped by Smugglers in Southern Algeria
http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/thum...article_medium
Quote:
An Italian tourist was kidnapped last Thursday evening in a first operation on the Algerian territory since 2003. According to local sources, the tourist, an Italian woman named Mariani Maria Sandra, aged 56, has been a kidnapping Thursday evening in the region of Alidena, near Niger and at the Algerian-Libyan border, 250 Km of Djanet in the province of Illizi.

The victim was with her driver and her tourist guide “T. M.”, aged 39, aboard a Toyota vehicle, in a tourist trip in the Sahara regions.
The guide was released by the kidnappers.
The kidnapping of the Italian tourist took place very quickly and she was taken towards the borders of Niger by her kidnappers who were armed with two all terrain vehicles.
...
According to sources of Ennahar, this kidnapping is the work of a group of smugglers, with the complicity of the tourist guide who has alerted the security services 24 hours later.
???

priffe 6 Feb 2011 07:20
Terrorisme : Une touriste italienne enlevée par des terroristes a Djanet - Actualité - El Watan

Quote:
A veteran of southern Algeria, an Italian 56 years, Sandra Maria Mariani, a native of Florence and the mother of a child, was kidnapped last Wednesday in the late afternoon, when she had just arrived at a former fort, used as an inn, located Alidena, 250 km south of Djanet (wilaya Illizi), and less than a hundred kilometers from the border with Niger.

According to local sources, was held hostage with her driver and guide from the Ténéré tourism agency based in Djanet, keeper of the site and a shepherd in the region, when two vehicles, 4X4 Standard Station , arrived. "It was about 18:30 or so. Turbaned men, heavily armed, numbering 13 or 14, an Arabic speaking Mauritanian got out and after checking his identity, they took her to an unknown destination, "say our sources, noting that before leaving, the attackers destroyed the lights of the guide's vehicle (a 4x4). Panicked, he returned to town and alerted the gendarmerie brigade of Djanet, which was the first to be informed, before the tourism agency. Immediately after, a search was initiated. According to reports from some guides in the region, kidnapping is a real surprise. "First, because the area is very secure, given the number of barracks that exist around even if the distance between them is large. Then by the fact that many tourists are currently on the scene and have never been worried with regard to security arrangements in place in the area ... "they tell us.

However, they do not rule out the thesis of "complicity" somewhere that could give "directions or instructions" on the bivouac places for terrorists. The Italian is no stranger to the region. "For over 5 years, she spent periods of three weeks, a month and up to two months in this area quite well and she knows she loves. She arrived in Djanet January 20 last. She spent a week in Tadrart then she returned to Djanet, to refuel before heading back to the desert. Maybe she could have been followed, but why her? There are many tourists in that area? "Says Kherrani, director of the agency Tenere, which has lavished praise on his guide, saying:" It's one of my best guides. He worked for 16 years at the agency level and knows the region inside out. This man is a mine of information. He can not venture into a place without making sure it is secure. Have the terrorists followed him? We do not know. What is certain is that those who kidnapped the tourists and speak Mauritanian, they are not Algerian or Touareg, "says Kherrani, which states that he was in Ouargla when the kidnapping took place, and that Djanet is reached yesterday. For him, "everything is still confused.
Operations search by the security services supported by the guides of the region continues. Resources have been deployed for this operation and we expect results. " Kherrani feared that the tourism sector Sahara, "already very affected by what happens in Mali and Niger," suffer "like a knockout," the dramatic consequences of such an act. "The few tourists who still come will be scared and abandon Algeria final destination," he says.
I don't think the Alg gendarmes will cross the border, which means it was too late from the start. Like Richard wrote, the spot was well chosen.
But they must've been informed? Desert rule #1 - don't tell anyone where your bivouac is going to be.

Quote:
Italy does not want initiatives that threaten the lives of the hostage

The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the kidnapping of an Italian tourist in Djanet and asked the Algerian authorities to "take no initiatives" that endanger its security. In a statement released yesterday, the Italian foreign ministry said: "He was asked relevant Algerian counterparts do not take action (...) which can endanger the safety of the Italian citizen (... ) as in all cases of kidnapping of Italian citizens, Italy will keep the reserve required on this matter so as not to interfere with research activities. "

priffe 6 Feb 2011 07:33
«Les assaillants seraient d’Al Qaîda» - Actualité - El Watan

Quote:
"The site is not far from Alidéna Tadrart. It is very secure and many tourists frequent it regularly" says M. Hamdaoui, president of the Association of Tourism Agencies of Tamanrasset. But the testimony of the guide that accompanied the tourists leave no doubt about the authors. According to him, "a band of 13 or 14 armed men in turbans and came aboard two 4X4 Station, raided the site at the time of the Maghreb (sunset). One of them had their faces uncovered. He spoke Arabic Mauritania. " They ask "where is the group of tourists" and he replies: "There are no tourists here." The attackers searched the premises and discovered the Italian. They demand the identity papers of three Algerians (the guardian of the site, the guide and a shepherd).

"They took away the papers and phones before asking me what agency I worked for. When I told him I was Ténéré of Kherrani, they said: 'Tell him he must stop this activity. It is contrary to the principles of Islam. " I wanted to know who he was and his reply was, 'We Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb'. "
"They blindfolded us and took us with them aboard our 4x4. We drove a long time before they abandon us at the border with Niger. "This evidence suggests that the kidnappers have certainly left the country to reach the Niger.

Yves 6 Feb 2011 19:52
Hi,
a guide had been arrested, in Italian:
Fiorentina rapita in Algeria: fonte, arrestata una guida - Toscana - ANSA.it
translated by Google:
Quote:
(ANSA) - ALGIERS, 6 FEB - One of the guides who accompanied the Sahara Sandra Maria Mariani, the Florentine kidnapped in Algeria, and 'was arrested. ANSA said Anis Rahmani, editor of the daily Ennahar, one of the most 'informed Algerian terrorism. And''The Man 'was arrested yesterday - said Rahmani - was involved in the abduction. This arrest and 'a very positive sign, the Algerian security services are following all the tracks.'' Meanwhile, according to reports in San Casciano, where the woman lives, relatives await news from a phone call scheduled for tomorrow with the Foreign Ministry. (ANSA).

priffe 6 Feb 2011 22:06
L’appello per Mariasandra: liberatela Arrestata una guida, era complice - Corriere Fiorentino

Quote:
Kherrani of Tenere Agency: "'Aziz - he said, referring to the arrested guide - work with me for 16 years" and "Sandra is a friend, is now a family. From her first trip in 2007 she had been so excited as to even ask me to work here. Since then she has returned every year in the oasis, and has always moved with the same guide."
So a real tragedy if the guide was involved. But the next report indicates he was not.

«Les responsabilités dans l’enlèvement sont ailleurs qu’e* l’agence» - Entretien - El Watan

Quote:
- Is it true that they followed the car from the guide?

The traces confirm this. Apparently the kidnappers were in Djanet. They followed the guide until Alidéna and took the hostages to the border with Niger, where they released three Algerians and kept the Italian tourist for a destination in Niger. However, this site I must repeat is safe.
...
I do not understand why those who are responsible for the survey reject our proposals, our material resources and guides to go in search of the hostage even outside the country.
The refusal by the algies to pursue across the borders even when they are invited (as they were at Tin Zahouatine last year) is senseless.

priffe 8 Feb 2011 09:56
People of Djanet protest the detention of three locals
Protestation des familles des trois personnes gardées à vue - Actualité - El Watan

Richard Washington 8 Feb 2011 10:29
Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe (Post 323264)
My guess is that the Algerian authorities have detained the three local Algerians who were present during the kidnapping so that they can work out precisely what happened.

Two years ago I had long discussions with guides in Algeria about security and kidnapping. I was interested in trying to work out why no kidnappings had happened in Algeria and what role the guide could possibly play in this. The guide concerned said something quite striking to me. He said that if we, as tourists were afraid of being kidnapped, then the guides were even more afraid because the Algerian authorities make the guides responsible for the client. If something were to happen, then the guides would have a lot of explaining to do.

So I think that the guides are busy doing that explaining. I think the authorities will want to rule out the involvement of the agency or to trace the possible leaking of info about the route. They will also probably be asking whether their car was followed out of Djanet.

priffe 8 Feb 2011 13:01
Email today from my friend in Djanet express the sentiments they have
Quote:
hier tout les agences chez la police pour relache le guide et le gardien aujourd'hui tout les jeunes font un ensemble devant la police pour la meme raison et tous dans leurs tetes de ne plus laisse arrive ça dans notre region
ciao ami

priffe 9 Feb 2011 17:37
Ennahar Online - Witnesses to the abduction of an Italian in southern Algeria released

priffe 18 Feb 2011 15:24
The Italian woman speaks

The Associated Press: Italian hostage in Algeria speaks in audio message

Quote:
In the terse audio message in French, the woman identified herself as Maria Sandra Mariani.
"I am the Italian woman who was abducted on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, near Djanet in Algeria," she said. "I am still detained by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb."
The al-Qaida spokesman, speaking in Arabic, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
"We are al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, Tarek bin Ziad battalion," the voice said. "I am speaking on behalf of Abdelhamid Abu Zaid, and this woman is his hostage since Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011. Her demand is that her message be announced so that her president and government hear it."

Ulrich 18 Feb 2011 17:10
Here is the audio message made by the Italien woman:

YouTube - Rapita da Al Qaida: audiomessaggio

and:

Quote:
The Italian tourist kidnapped in Algeria on Feb. 2 said to be alive and in the hands of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in an audiotape released Friday at dawn by the television channel Al-Arabiya, based in Dubai.
Ennahar - The Italian kidnapped in Algeria said to be in the hands of Al Qaeda

Regards

Ulrich

priffe 20 Feb 2011 18:56
Al Arabiya diffuse une revendication audio d’Al Qaîda - Actualité - El Watan

In this article Tlemcani suggests that the agencies in Djanet are actually involved in search operations beyond the borders with the neighbouring countries.
Also points out some irregularities. The audio was first transmitted from Al Arabiya, rather than Al Jazeera or the islamist websites they normally use. There was an unusually long delay in claiming the kidnap. Suggesting this was caused by an early refusal by Abu Zeid to accept the woman from the Mauri smugglers (?) who were trying to sell her off. But then he took her anyway.
Remains to see what leverage the touaregs in Djanet have with those involved in holding her in Mali. Let's hope they let her go!

Chris Scott 21 Feb 2011 08:43
The word here in Alg from a couple of people I spoke to is that it was either the work of Air bandits who did the frequent robberies over the years; Or aonther guy (who had much to lose from telling me this) claimed it was people from Djanet;
This supports the suggestion above that she was grabbed to be sold on to ABZ/AQIM;

Ch

priffe 21 Feb 2011 10:06
Early on the DRS thought a group of former aqim young men from Djanet who were released half a year ago were involved. UPDATE 4-Gunmen kidnap Italian woman tourist in Algeria | News by Country | Reuters
But then it was reported the abductors spoke mauritanian (hassaniya).

Richard Washington 21 Feb 2011 13:05
Sounds to me like it was a regular AQIM kidnapping party, complete with Mauritanians but that they were operating with the benefit of local knowledge. It seems to me they knew about the number of tourists passing through Alidena and going on to the Tadrart. They were there in the right month and planned to pick up several tourists. There aren't many places with a regular supply of tourists now. The Niger Tenere and Air are closed, N.Mali must be very quiet and Assekrem in Algeria is too confined.

priffe 21 Feb 2011 16:09
This I believe to be facts:
-the abductors were 13-14 in two 4x4s
-they spoke Mauritanian arabic (no mention of other languages spoken)
-tracks show they were tracing the abductee's car from Djanet
-they were looking for a tourist party but only found the woman, and took her straight to Niger
-after 17 days there was an audio message released on Al Arabiya

The rest is speculation. If indeed there were people from Djanet involved, they would carry the burden of having destroyed the lifeline of the region.
Would 14 Mauritanians in two cars near Djanet really be 'smugglers'?
Are you in Tam, Chris? Any tourists there?

Richard Washington 22 Feb 2011 10:15
Priffe- my sympathies for the Italian woman and the people of Djanet who, as you say, will be hard hit by this.

By local knowledge I did not necessarily mean insiders leaking info from the tourism sector. I meant that AQIM might well have sent someone in to town to see what was going on - what the opportunities were. Otherwise how will 14 guys pitching up from NE Mali, some from Mauri originally, know the lay of the land? That said, I am aware that not everyone in Djanet appreciates tourism.

priffe 27 Feb 2011 14:24
Ennahar Online - AQIM reopen negotiations, expert Mohamed Mokeddem says

Quote:
By releasing two Africans and a French sick, kidnapped in Niger, the group Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) disposes of hostages of less value to him and is attempting to reopen a channel of negotiations with Paris, experts say.
According to 'Malian sources close to the affairs', a ransom was paid.

Dave The Hat 2 May 2011 22:11
Ennahar Online - New proof of life of the Italian kidnapped in Algeria

Richard Washington 8 Feb 2012 21:32
one year + and no word?

Knight of the Holy Graal 9 Feb 2012 16:35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Washington (Post 366546)
one year + and no word?

The last news here in Italy report that our Foreign Office came to know that most probably (they are almost sure, I mean) she's held prisoner in Mali by local bandits, not by an Al-Qaeda group.
No ransom has been required, and this makes a contact with the kidnappers more difficult, they say.
Somehow, at present day, the family and our authorities have no news about her situation, she's completely disappeared.

Here Italiana rapita in Algeria - CRONACA is the article: it's in Italian, but you can use Google translator to have an idea of what they say (I resumed the entire page in 4 lines :-)

priffe 9 Feb 2012 17:03
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knight of the Holy Graal (Post 366626)
...most probably (they are almost sure, I mean) she's held prisoner in Mali by local bandits, not by an Al-Qaeda group.
....
Hard to tell the difference these days. If there is any.

Richard Washington 9 Feb 2012 17:19
This was on record in May last year:

"On 18 February, the Italian tourist, Sandra Maria Mariani, 53, kidnapped in south-east of Algeria, had indicated being alive and in the hands of AQIM, in an audiotape broadcast by the television channel Al- Arabiya based in Dubai.
Italian officials now roam the Sahel countries to seek support from regional governments to secure her release, sources said.

According to these sources, she is detained by the combat unit (katiba) of AQIM led by Abu Zeid, a leader of the organization considered a radical."
Ennahar Online - New proof of life of the Italian kidnapped in Algeria

What was odd about this case was that AQIM did not release their usual statement and photo. She is the only women to have been kidnapped on her own.

But it is also true of the last year or so is that governments and foreign affairs departments in particular now know that no-publicity is good for the person who has been kidnapped. The less that is in the media the better. The greater the fuss in the media, the larger the ransom.

Richard Washington 9 Feb 2012 18:52
and, I think, an audio message from her:
messaggio audio maria sandra mariani.wmv - YouTube
In Italian.

Knight of the Holy Graal 3 Mar 2012 13:22
Another Italian woman (so, not the one we are talking about in this topic) that was held prisoner by Al-Qaeda after being kidnapped in Algeria has been released today.

Italian breaking news:
Rossella Urru liberata in Mali "Scambio con militante di Al Qaeda"- LASTAMPA.it


The main title says:

Rossella Urru released in Mali.
"Exchanged for an Al-Qaeda jailed member".

Along with her, the terrorists have released also Al Ould al-Mukhtar, a Mauri policeman that was kidnapped during an operation of Al-Qaeda in southern Mauritania some months ago.

Richard Washington 3 Mar 2012 13:33
Rossella Urru was one of the NGO workers kidnapped in Tindouf last October.

Chris Scott 3 Mar 2012 17:24
And coincidentally (I presume), the splinter group which grabbed them from Rabouni are said to be behind today's suicide bombing in Tam, according to the article below.

Al Qaeda offshoot launches strike on Algerian military base - ALGERIA - FRANCE 24

Knight of the Holy Graal 7 Mar 2012 12:34
Mauritanians denied now that Rossella Urru has been released.

She's still prisoner in terrorists' hands.. :(

Dave The Hat 17 Apr 2012 23:24
Italian Female Released
 
According to Reuters:

UPDATE 2-Italian kidnapped in Algeria freed after 14 months | News by Country | Reuters

priffe 20 Apr 2012 06:22
https://lissnup.wordpress.com/2012/0...hostage-freed/

She looks ok. After 14 months!

If a ransom was paid, which is more than likely, then the beards have another €3M to buy weapons and train more kidnappers. And so, Europe is funding their business.
Meanwhile, MNLA is running out of funds. They have said they need to re-organize before they can take on Aqim - will take months, or even years.
Toumast Press | L’info Touareg et de l’Azawad vue par des Azawadiens


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