ALBAWABA - A group of people who dreamed of changing their lives to the best and escaping a crisis country to Europe were tricked by human traffickers and ended up in the hands of a kidnapping gang.
The story started when a person claimed to be a broker who could arrange a safe trip to Europe for those in the Bourj el-Barajneh camp. He promised them they could arrive safely in Italy, but in reality, he was a member of a gang that kidnapped migrants for ransom.
A group of eight Palestinians joined the alleged broker with hopes to reach Europe, but days later the camp residents were shocked by the news that the eight were kidnapped.
Eight Palestinians get kidnapped:
According to the father of Badi Dghem, one of the eight who were kidnapped, the Palestinian embassy in Beirut called them and told them that their children were freed by the Lebanese security forces.
In addition, the families of the eight men confirmed that the kidnappers asked for a $20,000 ransom for each victim, Lebanon Debate reported.
Nonetheless, they added that they received videos of their kids being tortured and attacked brutally by the gang member.
The Lebanese army posted on X (formerly Twitter): "As a result of the security monitoring and follow-up by the Intelligence Directorate, Palestinians from the Burj al-Barajneh camp, who had been kidnapped earlier, were freed."
Kidnapping cases are on the rise in Lebanon:
According to the latest reports, kidnappings have been on the rise in Lebanon amid the economic and political crisis and usually hostages are taken to places that are near the Syrian border.
Victims are usually subjected to the most horrific methods of torture and they are filmed to blackmail their families and force them to pay the required ransom.
Not only the operation of freeing eight Palestinians, but the Lebanese army also announced on X account to save three citizens in the Bekaa region, who were kidnapped on Sept. 9.
