Three Spanish aid workers were kidnapped in the North African nation Mauritania on Sunday. Spain’s Interior Minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, expressed his concerns that kidnappers could be members of the North African branch of Al Qaeda.

The incident happened on Sunday night, when the workers associated with the aid group Barcelona-Acciò Solidaria, were on the road to Nouadhibou, 150 km from Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania.

The workers were travelling in the last vehicle of the convoy which was carrying 20 tons of humanitarian aid when they were held at gunpoint. Other members travelling in the group said that they heard shouts on the radio but found the cargo on the deserted vehicle intact.

The names of the workers kidnapped are Alicia Gámez, Roque Pascual and Albert Vilalta. Vilalta’s father, Albert Vilalta is a former regional councilor for the environment.

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