 Lebanon (shown in red) | |
| Date | March 23, 2011 – July 14, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | Zahlé District, Lebanon |
| Participants | Harakat al-Nahda wal-Islah ("The Movement for Renewal and Reform")[1] |
| Outcome | Cyclists released |
The 2011 Estonian cyclists abduction was a kidnapping case involving seven Estonian cyclists who were abducted shortly after crossing into Lebanon from Syria on 23 March 2011. Their abductors are believed to have been a gang of Lebanese and Syrian nationals headed by fugitive Darwish Khanjar, who transferred the cyclists to a second gang, Harakat al-Nahda wal-Islah ("The Movement for Renewal and Reform"), led by Wael Abbas.
All seven cyclists were released in Lebanon on 14 July 2011, after 113 days in captivity. They were flown back to Estonia early the following morning. Wael Abbas was arrested by Syrian security forces in November 2011.
On 2 February 2013, the Lebanese army was the victim of an armed ambush in the northeastern town of Arsal, during which three officers were killed as it was seeking to arrest Khaled Homayed, who is believed to have been behind the kidnapping. Homayed has been active in the Free Syrian Army since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War.[2]
- ^ Blanford, Nicholas (4 April 2011). "Kidnapped Bikers: Is Lebanon Being Sucked Into Regional Unrest?". TIME. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
A previously unknown group called Harakat al-Nahda wal-Islah (the Movement for Renewal and Reform) last week belatedly claimed responsibility for the March 23 kidnapping and sent copies of ID cards for three of the Estonians to a Lebanese internet news site.
- ^ "At least two soldiers killed in east Lebanon ambush | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR".