BEIRUT — Lebanese judicial officials say a military prosecutor has indicted 11 people suspected of involvement in last month’s kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists.
The officials said prosecutor Saqr Saqr charged the 11 on Friday with forceful abduction. Seven are in custody. The officials say Saqr later referred the suspects to an investigative judge. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The Estonians were cycling in the eastern Bekaa Valley when armed men wearing masks kidnapped them.
What were the Estonians doing there? The story somehow never quite gets around to that. | It wasnÂ’t clear whether the kidnappings were politically motivated, like the wave of abductions during LebanonÂ’s civil war. Kidnappings are less common now but the area where the group was kidnapped is known for lawlessness, drug trafficking and clan feuds. |