The Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs has revealed that three Egyptians were kidnapped instead of five as has been reported, and that they have been found in a Syrian prison. Mohamed Abdel-Hakim, assistant foreign minister for consular affairs and Immigration, stated that Syrian authorities informed the Egyptian embassy in Damascus yesterday that the three Egyptians were being held in prison following their arrest on charges of illegally entering Syrian territory. Moreover, media outlets were blamed for reporting that five Egyptians working in Lebanon were abducted by an international gang who demanded a ransom of $4,000 for each man. It had also been reported that a Syrian broker intervened to release the Egyptians for a guarantee of the ransom from their relatives. The truth, however, was something else as only three Egyptians were missing which are; Hamdy Hassan El Safety, Hisham Mbaruk Awad and Tawakol Ragheb. Furthermore, Abdel-Hakim stated that they are currently being processed for travel and will return home.
