The Daily Star - Hunt for 4 fugitive suspects in Estonians’ abduction drags on - April 14, 2011

By Youssef Diab
The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Ambiguity still surrounds the fate of the seven kidnapped Estonian tourists near Zahle’s industrial zone last month as the main four suspects behind the incident remain at large, judicial sources told The Daily Star Wednesday.
The sources said investigations concluded that the seven tourists were still being held hostage by three Lebanese suspects -- Wael Abbas, Kenaan Yassin and Mounir Jalloul – as well as Syrian national Mohammad Ahmad, known as Hammoudi Zarife.
The sources said security forces failed to make any progress toward uncovering the location of the hostages after fully sweeping the Bekaa region but added that investigations revealed a connection between Darwish Khanjar and the kidnappers. On Sunday, Khanjar was killed and his companion injured when they exchanged fire with an ISF Information Branch patrol that was pursuing them in the Western Bekaa area of Ammiq after they robbed Suzanne Eid Jebbara and Rima Karam of their Honda CRV at gunpoint.
The owner of the car identified photos of Abbas and Ahmad, saying the two assailants were in company of Khanjar when he carried out an armed carjacking of their vehicle, the sources said.
The sources added that Abbas and Ahmad managed to flee the scene while Khanjar was killed.
“The kidnappers undertook the operation to demand a large ransom but after they faced fierce pursuit by security personnel raiding the region, the issue became too complicated for them,” a judicial source said.
The sources added that seven people who have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping said the four principal suspects mistook the Estonians for British or French tourists, and expected to free them later in exchange for a large ransom.
The previously unknown Haraket al-Nahda Wal-Islah [Reform and Revival Movement] claimed responsibility for the operation and demanded ransom in an email to a news website earlier this month.