Egypt: 2 foreign tourists kidnapped in Sinai freed

Two foreign tourists kidnapped in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula were freed early Tuesday.

Armed Bedouin tribesmen abducted the Israeli man and Norwegian woman on Friday between Taba and the coastal town of Dahab.

They were in good health, and were freed in the early hours of the morning by tribal leaders, the state news agency MENA reported, citing the security services.

Hostage taking in the isolated desert region happens frequently and the victims are usually released unharmed.

Earlier this month, two middle-aged British tourists were kidnapped between the Egyptian capital of Cairo and the popular resort city Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea.

They were released unharmed a few hours later after police promised the kidnappers to release a detained relative.