The Mysterious Disappearance
In a chilling turn of events over the weekend, Liverpool’s celebrated footballer, Luis Diaz, faced every family’s worst nightmare. His parents, on a regular visit to a petrol station in the quaint town of Barrancas, found themselves targeted and abducted by a gang of armed motorcyclists.
A Swift Response, A Mother Rescued
With Barrancas’ close proximity to the Colombian-Venezuelan border, authorities wasted no time. They immediately set up barricades, managing to rescue Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, in a matter of hours. However, his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, continues to elude the police.
Cross-border Concerns
The dense cloud forests of northern Colombia, a mountainous region which blurs the boundaries between Colombia and Venezuela, have become the focal point of police investigations. With a £40,000 reward on the table for any credible lead on Diaz’s father, there’s an air of urgency. The underlying fear remains that Diaz senior might have been taken across to Venezuela, putting him out of the Colombian police’s jurisdiction.
Liverpool’s Show of Solidarity
The news has understandably shaken the football community. While the 26-year-old Colombian star forward was conspicuously absent from Liverpool’s game against Nottingham Forest, his teammates paid him a heartfelt tribute. As the net received its first goal, a Diaz shirt was held aloft, a symbol of unity and support during his personal ordeal.
Kidnappings on the Rise
The unfortunate incident spotlighting Diaz’s parents is not an isolated one. Colombia has seen a concerning uptick in abductions, often driven by ransoms or extortion, even as the nation’s first left-wing government attempts to mediate with rebel factions. While it remains uncertain which group targeted Diaz’s parents, the hope is that clarity emerges soon.