Turkish workers under captivity in Libya freed after 223 days

ANKARA

Three Turkish workers who were kidnapped in Ubari, Libya in November 2017 have been freed after 233 days of captivity, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on June 24, citing Turkish prime ministerial sources. 

Osman Emre Yaykın, Tuğrul Can Kapubağlı, and Sertaç Karan, all engineers working for Turkish construction firm Enka, have been freed, the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media, were quoted as saying.

They were released from captivity after intensified efforts in cooperation with Libyan authorities, the agency reported. 

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım reportedly conveyed the information to the employees’ families over the phone. 

The workers are expected to return Turkey soon.