The statement was read by Salah Abou-Mohammad, a spokesman for the Islamist group which last January announced it was redefining itself as " Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb ". "A squadron of heroic mujahideen was able to infiltrate deep into the Tunisian state and succeeded in kidnapping two Austrian tourists," Abou-Mohammed said. "The two kidnapped are in good health and are being treated well in keeping with the teachings of Islamic Sharia." Austrian authorities have confirmed that two of its citizens have been missing since mid-February, but declined to identify them. Reports in local Austrian media say that they are a couple from near Salzburg : Andrea Kloiber, aged 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, aged 51. Abou-Mohammad identified them by their professions as a nurse and a consultant, respectively. According to a statement released by the Tunisian government, the pair was last reported heading into the Sahara in a direction that could have taken them across the border. Tunisia was also the scene of the 2002 Ghriba synagogue bombing , for which Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. That attack left 14 Germans, six Tunisians, and one Frenchman dead and more than 30 others wounded.
The statement was read by Salah Abou-Mohammad, a spokesman for the Islamist group which last January announced it was redefining itself as " ". "A squadron of heroic was able to infiltrate deep into the Tunisian state and succeeded in kidnapping two Austrian tourists," Abou-Mohammed said. "The two kidnapped are in good health and are being treated well in keeping with the teachings of Islamic Sharia." Austrian authorities have confirmed that two of its citizens have been missing since mid-February, but declined to identify them. Reports in local Austrian media say that they are a couple from near : Andrea Kloiber, aged 43, and Wolfgang Ebner, aged 51. Abou-Mohammad identified them by their professions as a nurse and a consultant, respectively. According to a statement released by the Tunisian government, the pair was last reported heading into the in a direction that could have taken them across the border. Tunisia was also the scene of the 2002 , for which Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. That attack left 14 Germans, six Tunisians, and one Frenchman dead and more than 30 others wounded.
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Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
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mujahideen
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Salzburg
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Sahara
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Ghriba synagogue bombing