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Europeans describe kidnap ordeal | Europeans describe kidnap ordeal |
(10 minutes later) | |
A group of European tourists who spent 10 days as hostages in the Sahara have been describing the terrifying ordeal. | |
"At a certain point we thought it was all over," Walter Barotto, an Italian among a group of 19 people kidnapped in Egypt, told La Stampa newspaper. | "At a certain point we thought it was all over," Walter Barotto, an Italian among a group of 19 people kidnapped in Egypt, told La Stampa newspaper. |
Four other Italians, five Germans, a Romanian and eight Egyptian guides had been seized in a remote border area. | Four other Italians, five Germans, a Romanian and eight Egyptian guides had been seized in a remote border area. |
All the hostages have returned home after being freed on Monday, but there are conflicting accounts of the rescue. | |
They say they were suddenly released by their kidnappers, not rescued in a raid that involved a gunfight, as Egyptian officials earlier claimed. | |
"Shots? We didn't hear any," 70-year-old Italian tourist Mirella De Guili told reporters upon arriving at Turin's airport on Tuesday. | "Shots? We didn't hear any," 70-year-old Italian tourist Mirella De Guili told reporters upon arriving at Turin's airport on Tuesday. |
The tourists and their guides said they were allowed by the kidnappers to leave in a single vehicle. | The tourists and their guides said they were allowed by the kidnappers to leave in a single vehicle. |
All in one car | All in one car |
"We put our trust in God and drove in the desert for five or six hours, with no spare tyre and very little water. If we made a mistake, we would die," Ms De Guili said. | |
The group were seized in the remote Gilf al-Kebir area | The group were seized in the remote Gilf al-Kebir area |
"There were 19 of us packed into one car, some on the roof," Hassan Abdel Hakim, one of the kidnapped Egyptians, told the Associated Press news agency. | "There were 19 of us packed into one car, some on the roof," Hassan Abdel Hakim, one of the kidnapped Egyptians, told the Associated Press news agency. |
Mr Hakim revealed that moments before they were allowed to leave in the car he thought he and the other Egyptian guides were about to be killed. | |
"They told all the Egyptians to stand in one line and they cocked their weapons, and at that moment we thought we were dead," he said. | "They told all the Egyptians to stand in one line and they cocked their weapons, and at that moment we thought we were dead," he said. |
But they were then told they could take one car and leave. | But they were then told they could take one car and leave. |
The tourists said they later spotted two armed men who "luckily" turned out to be Egyptian soldiers. | The tourists said they later spotted two armed men who "luckily" turned out to be Egyptian soldiers. |
'Scared' | 'Scared' |
The tourists also revealed dramatic details of their seizure at gunpoint by unidentified attackers on 19 September, which was followed by a dash through remote areas of the Sahara Desert. | The tourists also revealed dramatic details of their seizure at gunpoint by unidentified attackers on 19 September, which was followed by a dash through remote areas of the Sahara Desert. |
Giovanna Quaglia, another Italian tourist, told La Stampa: "The water and food was rationed, we were scared." | Giovanna Quaglia, another Italian tourist, told La Stampa: "The water and food was rationed, we were scared." |
"They never hit us but with us - women - they were very strict. We had to keep our faces covered." | "They never hit us but with us - women - they were very strict. We had to keep our faces covered." |
"The worst moments were Saturday and Sunday, there was no news and we understood that the negotiations had stalled. It's an experience that I would not wish on anyone," Ms De Giuli said. | "The worst moments were Saturday and Sunday, there was no news and we understood that the negotiations had stalled. It's an experience that I would not wish on anyone," Ms De Giuli said. |
Rescue operation | Rescue operation |
The tourists were freed by Egyptian troops in a pre-dawn operation on Monday, Egyptian security sources said. | The tourists were freed by Egyptian troops in a pre-dawn operation on Monday, Egyptian security sources said. |
Egyptian Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi said "half of the kidnappers were eliminated" in the raid, the official MENA news agency reported. | Egyptian Defence Minister Hussein Tantawi said "half of the kidnappers were eliminated" in the raid, the official MENA news agency reported. |
However, this was later disputed by other officials who said there had been little or no violence. | However, this was later disputed by other officials who said there had been little or no violence. |
Some reports say Sudanese troops were also involved in the operation. | Some reports say Sudanese troops were also involved in the operation. |
The breakthrough came a day after Sudanese troops reportedly clashed with the kidnappers in northern Sudan, killing six gunmen. Another two were taken into custody. | The breakthrough came a day after Sudanese troops reportedly clashed with the kidnappers in northern Sudan, killing six gunmen. Another two were taken into custody. |
The two suspects - whose identity was not revealed - claimed the tourists were in Chad but their exact whereabouts at the time of rescue remains unclear. Chad denied the group was within its borders. | The two suspects - whose identity was not revealed - claimed the tourists were in Chad but their exact whereabouts at the time of rescue remains unclear. Chad denied the group was within its borders. |
After the rescue, the Western tourists and their guides were flown to Cairo. | After the rescue, the Western tourists and their guides were flown to Cairo. |
German officials had been negotiating via satellite phone with the kidnappers, who were demanding a ransom of $8.8m (£4.9m). | German officials had been negotiating via satellite phone with the kidnappers, who were demanding a ransom of $8.8m (£4.9m). |
Egyptian officials said no money exchanged hands. | Egyptian officials said no money exchanged hands. |
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