Egypt contacting Libyan authorities to verify news about abducted national

The Foreign Ministry is contacting authorities concerned in Libya to verify reports about the abduction of an Egyptian national in Sabha city, a diplomatic source told MENA Tuesday.

News has been circulating that some unidentified gunmen kidnapped Erfan Salem, an Egyptian living in al Manshiya district of Sabha Monday night.

A security source at al Qarda police station in Sabha announced Monday that Salem had been abducted.

Sabha is witnessing a surge in murder, armed robbery and abduction.

Abduction of Egyptians and other nationals in Libya has become common since the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Thousands of Egyptians have fled Libya for security reasons in recent months. The number of returnees particularly surged following the beheading of 20 Egyptians by Daesh affiliates in the Libyan city of Sirte in February.