Four Italian construction workers have been kidnapped in Libya, the Italian foreign ministry said Monday.
The ministry, in a statement, said the four were kidnapped near a complex of Italian oil and gas giant Eni in the western Libyan city of Mellitah, reported ANSA.
The ministry added that the four were employees of the Bonatti construction company that specialize in oil field work. They were kidnapped on their way back from Tunisia on Sunday evening, reported BBC.
"The crisis unit (of foreign ministry) began monitoring the case immediately and remains in continuous contact with the families of the four Italian national and the Bonatti company," the statement said, according to Up Stream Online.
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said it was difficult to speculate who was behind the abductions.
"We are busy trying to find the people that were kidnapped and trying to solve this problem. It's very difficult after just a few hours to understand the nature of this kidnapping, who is responsible for it," Gentiloni said, according to CNN.
4 Italian employees working for construction firm on coast of Libya were kidnapped, Italian Foreign Ministry says. https://t.co/Yx2556rkIJ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 20, 2015
Italy closed its embassy in Libya in February this year and urged its citizens to leave the country. It remains unclear who kidnapped the Italian workers but media reports suggest the possibility of Islamic State's hand as the terror group recently targeted an Italian mission in the region, according to Israel National News.
Islamic State group claimed responsibility of a recent attack on Italian consulate in Cairo. One person died and several were injured in the attack, HNGN reported previously.
Libya has slipped into civil war since the removal and killing of Dictator Moammar Gadaffi in 2011, reported the Associated Press. The country is now divided between a Tobruk-based - weak, but internationally recognized - elected government and a Tripoli-based Islamist militia-supported government.
