German released after brief abduction in Nablus

3 February 2006

NABLUS – A German citizen was released after being briefly abducted Thursday evening in the West Bank city of Nablus by two unidentified Palestinian men, Palestinian security sources said.

The man was said to be with police after being held for about an hour. He was identified by the first name of “Christoph”, and said to be a volunteer English teacher with Project Hope in Nablus.

Witnesses said he was led away by two men who approached him and asked to see his passport as he sat at a café in the Yasmin Hotel.

Ala Sanakres, an al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade member in Nablus, denied that his organization was involved in the abduction. “Those who did this will be held responsible,” he said.

Earlier Thursday there had been fierce protests in the Gaza Strip over the publication in European media of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

More than 50 Palestinian gunmen from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Islamic Jihad stormed the European Union office in Gaza City saying they were closing it down “until further notice”.

They also called on the citizens of the European countries to leave as soon as possible since “they are not so welcome in our country.”

DPA

Subject: German news