Three Europeans working for an Italian construction company in Libya have likely been kidnapped, a government official said on Sunday, according to Reuters news agency.

The vehicle of the Italian, Macedonian and Bosnian engineers was found abandoned in the town of Zuwara, west of the capital Tripoli, an official in the local town council told Reuters.

“They are missing, and we suspect they have been kidnapped,” the official said.

No further details were immediately available.

Libya has witnessed a rise in kidnappings of foreigners and diplomats since the ouster of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.

The government and parliament are unable to control militias who are spreading terror in the country.


(Al Arabiya with Reuters)