arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Red Cross official seized by sacked PA cop

by Jay Thursday, Nov. 07, 2002 at 9:04 PM

Palestinians: Red Cross official seized by sacked PA cop

A German representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross abducted from the Gaza town of Khan Yunis on Thursday afternoon was seized by a sacked Palestinian policeman and three of his relatives, Palestinian sources said.

Nicolai Panke was abducted at gunpoint by four masked men while he was handing out food to Palestinians whose homes had been destroyed during fighting. The kidnapping was witnessed by several bystanders.

The Red Cross spokesman in Israel, Uriel Massad, confirmed that Panke had been abducted, and that the kidnappers had contacted the organization.

"The people who took him were in contact with our office in Khan Yunis," ICRC spokeswoman Jessica Barry told Reuters.

"We have also been in touch with Nicolai himself and we have contacted the Palestinian authorities, at the highest level, who are helping to secure his release as soon as possible," she said.

But the Gaza sources said the kidnappers were holding Panke at an undisclosed location in Khan Yunis and that police were looking for him.

They said efforts were being made to ensure the safe release of the hostage.

Panke "is responsible for our activities in those areas and was assisting people who had their houses demolished. He was kidnapped by four armed young men," ICRC spokeswoman Alexandra Matijevic said earlier. She confirmed that Panke is "safe and well."

"We are in contact with the Palestinian Authority and we are not negotiating directly with the abductors," she added.

Palestinian security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said all the gunmen were former police officers who had been fired from their duties in the Palestinian security services.

About two months ago the same group abducted three Italians who were in Gaza to express solidarity with the Palestinians, the security officials said. The Italians were released unharmed.

The security officials called the kidnapping a criminal act, and said they were negotiating to obtain Panke's release. They said the gunmen were demanding to get their jobs back.