Four Italians working for a construction company have been kidnapped in conflict-torn Libya.
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The kidnapping took place near the city’s ENI, the Italian oil giant, complex, the ministry added.
The ministry said a crisis unit is “in constant contact with the families and the company Bonatti” which employs the four.
Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his agency has been working on the case but is uncertain which of Libya’s numerous militias is involved in the incident. Foreign governments have struggled to keep their nationals safe in Libya, which has descended into civil war since the ouster of 40-year ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
In February 2014, two Italian construction workers were released after they were held near Derna, in the east of Libya for three weeks.
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The ministry did not say when the men were snatched, but a statement sent to Upstream from Bonatti said they were abducted on Sunday. It remains unclear who kidnapped the Italian workers but media reports suggest the possibility of Islamic State’s hand as the terror group recently targeted an Italian mission in the region, according to Israel National News.
