Italy’s foreign ministry has confirmed two Italians were among those kidnapped.
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The ministry said in a brief statement that it had learned about the abduction.
Citing Libyan sources, the Italian press said the trio worked for a ground handling company at Ghat airport near the Algerian border.
“We are aware of the troubling, yet unconfirmed report of the abduction of a Canadian citizen in Libya”, ministry spokesman Michael O’Shaughnessy told AFP.
The statement quoted the head of the Ghat Municipal Council Koumani Mohammed Saleh as saying that al-Qaida is not behind the abduction.
“We strongly condemn this incident and we are working with local security authorities for the safe return of the abductees”, the municipality said.
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Libya remains in the grip of conflict and political divisions although Ghat is controlled by the government of National Unity, based in Tripoli. Nearly a year into its mandate, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has dealt with several high-profile abduction cases and has repeatedly said that it does not pay ransom to kidnappers.
