21 Egyptian fishermen held by the Libyan Islamist Libya Daw are ‘missing’.

21 Egyptian fishermen held by the Libyan Islamist Libya Daw are ‘missing’.(dailynewsegypt).

An additional 21 Egyptians were claimed missing in the Libyan city of Misrata early on Sunday, following reports of the death of 21 Copts in Libya.

Head of the fishermen’s syndicate in Kafr Al-Sheikh Ahmed Nassar said in a call to the ONTV satellite channel that communications with 21 fishermen who were held in custody by the Libyan Islamist Libya Dawn factions have stopped for three days.

Nassar said that the fishermen were detained by the Islamist factions two months ago, but they were told they would be deported to Egypt after investigating their papers.

The abduction of these fishermen follows an ongoing situation of 21 other Egyptians who were also kidnapped, and have been feared executed by a Libyan branch of the Islamic State group.

 IS issued Thursday the seventh edition of its English-language magazine “Dabiq,” showing photos of 21 Egyptian Copts allegedly kidnapped in Libya’s city of Sirte. 

 
He added that the fishermen who hold official work permits were in contact with their families in Egypt, but such communications stopped three days ago.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Badr Abdelatty told Daily News Egypt that the ministry has the fishermen’s information, and will verify their situation after communicating with Libyan officials.

“A crisis cell is convened and all agencies are working together to clarify the situation of Egyptians in Libya,” he added.

The relatives of the kidnapped fishermen, who are from the Delta governorate of Kafr el-Sheikh city, are planning to head to the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry to find out the latest news of the fishermen, Nassar told “On My Responsibility” talk show, adding that the fishermen had entered Libyan territories legally.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi called Saturday the Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II and confirmed that he is personally following the case, and that all the state’s agencies are exerting maximal efforts to verify the situation. More here and here.