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**Chris Scott** · #**766** 3 Days Ago

Do we assume they were all grabbed while on the N1 highway?

Quote:

as it is totally possible that the Algerian "friend" could potentially also have terrorists ties.

It is also possible that anyone along the route who saw the southbound vehicle and knew one occupant was a foreigner could have called it in. This has happened before.

**edwardbgill** · #**767** 2 Days Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdz

Even though the Spanish tourist made a major mistake trying to avoid being escorted, it is still appalling that 8 foreign terrorists were able to enter and exit Algeria so easily over 400 km.

This is the particularly shocking bit - that it was apparently near Tam (has that been confirmed?).

**gvdaa** · #**768** 1 Day Ago

The Spanish guy was liberated, I hear, by Tuareg-rebels in Mali. He was taken hostage by smugglers that tried to sell him, in vain

**Chris Scott** · #**769** 1 Day Ago

I also hear from Algeria: 'The Algerian state has recovered the Spanish tourist and he is now in his country'.

Seems it was actually the Azawad Liberation Front ('FLA'; rebels for an Azawad homeland rather than black-flag jihadists) who negotiated the liberation of Gilbert Giane Navarro near Indelimane deep in eastern Mali – 150km east of Gao, 850km SW of Tam and site of various jihadist ambushes over the years.
It may have been a chance grab by opportunistic Algerian smugglers looking to sell Navarro on, but the ABC report below has the FLA citing an unnamed 'transnational mafia' which sounds a bit more organised. You'd think JNIM, ISGS etc would have put up a fight to keep their latest hostage.

The location of the grab in Algeria is still unclear. As mentioned elsewhere, there are loads of people-smugglers boldly running up and down the TSH in Hiluxs, but you'd think they stick to the program.

https://abcnews.go.com/International...eria-117931744

As estebangc says below, El Pais gives another version with talk of selling on to ISGS prior to the claimed liberation.
https://elpais.com/espana/2025-01-21...el-sahara.html

**estebangc** · #**770** 20 Hours Ago

Despite the fact that Spain usually pays ramsons, I feel all was too quick considering how slowly our authorities tend to react in this cases.

Very few details and coverage on the news in Spain. They all repeat that he was "abandoned (???) by the kidnappers so to be purchased by the Islamic State for the sum of 100 to 2500 million CF before being released ("abandonado por sus captores para ser comprado por Estado Islámico por entre 100 y 250 millones de francos CFA (entre 150.000 euros y 380.000 euros) antes de ser rescatado).

The way it is written in several media it is deliberately as unclear as it can be, even for a Spanish native.

Quite different from "Azawad Liberation Front located Navarro and his kidnappers near the town of Indelimane in Mali's eastern region of Menaka. After surrounding the kidnappers, the rebel fighters were able to negotiate the Spanish man's release on Monday".

**Chris Scott** · #**771** 20 Hours Ago

I read somewhere he may have been South American.
Yes, it sounds way too quick for any ransom payment.

Good propaganda for FLA (if that version is true) and good outcome for Algeria and the hostage.

**gdz** · #**772** 11 Hours Ago

Good news, he has been liberated.
Sorry for the wrong information I shared, I tried to share with you information from Algerians (which were not confirmed at the time) in order to keep you updated.
The guy is a real spaniard and has no long hair