Liverpool Star Luis Díaz’s Dad Freed After 13 Days in Guerrilla Captivity
Luis Manuel Díaz, father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz, has been released by left-wing guerrillas after nearly two weeks in captivity. The National Liberation Army (ELN) handed him over to United Nations and Catholic Church officials, police sources and local media confirm.
Kidnapping Shocks Family’s Hometown
The abduction happened on October 28 in Barrancas, the Díaz family’s hometown near the Venezuela border. While Luis Díaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was released within hours, his father spent 13 tense days in captivity. Authorities report he is in good health with no signs of mistreatment.
Luis Manuel Díaz is now being taken to Valledupar for a medical check-up and will soon be reunited with his family amid heartfelt celebrations. Neighbours were seen wearing Luis Díaz’s No.23 shirts, visibly emotional at his safe return.
ELN Confirms Role in Kidnap
The kidnapping was confirmed by the ELN, Colombia’s longest-running guerrilla group, currently in peace talks with the government. The ELN has about 2,500 fighters and remains most active in the border regions around Venezuela — right where the Díaz family lives.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges Colombia faces in quelling the ELN rebellion, which has persisted since 1964.
