Spanish authorities are investigating the kidnapping of a Spanish tourist in southern Algeria allegedly by militants of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) on Wednesday, El Pais reported.
According to reports, the kidnappers released the tourist’s companions and abducted only the man, identified only as being over 60 years old. Authorities believe the captors transported him to Mali where they are holding him hostage. The Algerian government has not disclosed the identity of the victim.
The kidnapping is the second such attack on a tourist in the region. In recent days. On Sunday, Austrian officials reported the abduction of Eva Gretzmatcher, an Austrian national, in the Agadez region of Niger, near the Algerian border.
These kidnappings follow a tragic incident in October, when assailants murdered a Swiss woman on a café terrace in a popular tourist area in southern Algeria.
Terrorist groups, including ISGS, remain active in Algeria. While some factions have moved away from kidnapping Westerners, ISGS appears to be adopting the practice as a core strategy, particularly in the Tahoua and Agadez regions.
In response to the rising risks, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning to its citizens traveling in Algeria. The ministry is advising travelers to move in groups, share itineraries with the Spanish Embassy, and exercise heightened caution during their trips.