Signs of Life from Europeans Missing in Algeria
April 14, 2003
Almost two months after 31 European citizens went missing during a desert trek in Algeria, cautious optimism is beginning to circulate in the hallways of the German and Austrian foreign ministries.
Austria's foreign minister said over the weekend that there was evidence that the group, which include 15 Germans and 10 Austrians, from as recently as April 8 that indicated that the group might still be alive. German Interior Minister Otto Schily, who paid a surprise visit to Algeria Tuesday of last week, said there could be "quiet hope that the missing are still alive."
Neither official gave concrete reasons as to why that would the case. Six agents from Germany's Federal Office of Investigation (BKA) as well as Austrian investigators have joined more than 2,000 Algerian soldiers in the search for the tourists, who were travelling in six different groups.
The groups, made up of Austrians, Germans, four Swiss citizens, one Swede and one Dutch citizen, had been on adventure vacations, touring the desert on motorbikes and four-wheel drive vehicles. Two of the groups went missing on Feb.22, the last group was heard from on March 8, according to the BKA.
Since then, Arab commentators and experts have voiced several theories on where they might have gone. Most compelling among the explanations is that the groups were kidnapped by Islamic fundamentalists, possibly with ties to the terrorist network, al-Qaeda. The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported that Germany's Federal Prosecutor has begun an investigation linked to the disappearance.
The father of one of the missing tourists said his son was travelling with experienced desert trekkers. "They're being held somewhere," Manfred Notter told a German wire service agency. "I believe they have been kidnapped under a political motive."
After moving slowly at first, Algeria's government has stepped up its investigation. Using helicopters, ground troops and heat-sensing radar, authorities have scoured the 2 million square kilometer (772,200 square mile) region.