British expat couple ‘kidnapped by ISIS-linked gang’

A British couple are feared to have been kidnapped by a gang linked to ISIS in South Africa.   

The unnamed pair were abducted in KwaZulu-Natal province last week and have not been found, police said.

The 74-year-old Briton and his 63-year-old wife, who live in Cape Town, were taken while holidaying near the town of Vryheid.

Their vehicle was found on Wednesday in the city of Durban, almost 200 miles from where they disappeared.

 The victims’ vehicle was found on Wednesday in the city of Durban (pictured above) – almost 200 miles away from where they disappeared – but there was no trace of the couple

‘The Cape Town couple had left the Western Cape on February 5 and they were expected to return on February 15,’ a police spokesman said.

‘They were going on a trip to collect seeds and indigenous plants.’

A male and female suspect were arrested in Vryheid with IS material allegedly in their possession. Sayfydeen Aslam Del Vecchio, 38, and Fatima Patel, 27, have been remanded in custody on charges of kidnapping and terrorism. 

They have not been named but have been described as a 74-year-old British man who moved to South Africa in the 1970s and his 63-year-old South African-born wife.

The victims’ vehicle was found on Wednesday in the city of Durban – almost 200 miles away from where they disappeared – but there was no trace of the couple.

A spokesman for the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation, known as the Hawks, refused to comment on whether a demand for a ransom has been received.

But he revealed that two suspects have been arrested – Aslam Del Vecchio, 38, and 27-year-old Fatima Patel – on charges of kidnapping as well as robbery and arson dating back to last year.

The unnamed pair were abducted in KwaZulu-Natal  province but have not been found, police said

The unnamed pair were abducted in KwaZulu-Natal province but have not been found, police said

They were arrested on February 16 and had been on a wanted list after a sugar cane field in the region was torched.

Earlier this week, the Foreign Office updated its travel advice for South Africa to include news of the kidnap under the advisory’s terrorism section.

But Captain Lloyd Ramovha said there was currently no suggestion that the disappearance of the couple was linked to terror.

He said: ‘As far as the ongoing investigation is concerned, nothing suggests any link to terrorism at this stage.

‘We say that without wanting to pre-empt what eventually we will find but at this stage nothing points to a terrorist link.’

An Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are working closely with the South African authorities following the kidnap of two South African/British dual nationals and have offered consular support to the family.’

‘As there is an ongoing investigation we cannot comment further.’

  

 



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