Rebel Group Which Abducted Liverpool Forward, Luis Diaz’s Father Releases Statement

A rebel group which kidnapped Luis Manuel, the father of Liverpool forward Luis Diaz, are scheduled to release him after making an announcement on Thursday.

The National Liberation Army (ELN), a violent rebel group, was identified by the Colombian authorities as Luis Manuel’s captors.

READ ALSO: Liverpool Forward Luis Diaz Makes First Public Statement Since Kidnapping Of His Father 

Later that day, an ELN official declared in a statement that Diaz’s father would soon be released.

In a major step in the case, ELN member Juan Carlos Cuellar stated in the video footage that the Liverpool Forward’s father, Luis Manuel would be released “as soon as possible”.

The ELN was founded in 1964 and remains one of Colombia’s most powerful insurgent groups.

They entered into a ceasefire with the Colombian government back in August in an attempt to forge peace. Interior minister Luis Fernando Velasco claimed on Thursday that this ceasefire had been violated with the kidnapping, prompting the ELN’s video response.

Armed men riding motorbikes abducted Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, and his father on Sunday. After a few hours, Marulanda was freed, but Luis Manuel has not been seen or heard from since. There are concerns that he might have been transported into Venezuela illegally by the rebel group.

Due to the incident, Diaz has missed Liverpool’s last two games; nonetheless, last Sunday, in their 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, he was honoured by his teammates.