Liverpool star Luis Diaz ‘will not travel to Colombia’ after being warned about his own security if he tries to help hunt for his father’s kidnappers, with police and army still unable to find them
- Diaz was persuaded by relatives not to make the journey back home to Colombia
- A massive search continues for his kidnapped father Luis Manuel Diaz
- Follow Mail Sport’s new Liverpool WhatsApp channel for all the breaking news
Luis Diaz will remain in England ‘for security reasons’ while the police and military continue the search for his kidnapped father in Colombia.
As the authorities in his homeland sent army commandos to guard the border and prevent Luis Manuel Diaz being taken into neighbouring Venezuela, reports say the Liverpool star will not travel back home.
Semana report that Diaz wanted to make the journey back to Colombia but relatives persuaded him against it.
They cited ‘security issues’ as a factor and Diaz will place his hopes of a rescue in the hands of the authorities.
Diaz, 26, found out about the kidnapping of his parents by armed men on Saturday evening ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Liverpool star Luis Diaz will not travel home to Colombia, reports say, after relatives persuaded him to remain in England as the hunt for his kidnapped father continues
The search for Luis Manuel Diaz continues with authorities monitoring jungle regions near the border with Venezuela
A reward of around £40,000 has been offered for information about the kidnapping
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He left the squad and is being looked after by members of Liverpool staff as he awaits news from back home.
Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was freed from the kidnappers though the whereabouts of his father Luis Manuel remain unknown.
The Colombian army issued an update that the search for Diaz’s father continues with the support of ‘two motorised platoons, unmanned aircraft, checkpoints, helicopters, a plane with specialised radar and more than 120 men,’ Semana reported.
On Monday, it was reported that border crossings between Colombia and Venezuela located inside dense jungle were being monitored by army commandos as the search mission continues on a large scale.
Reports in Colombia said police are not ruling out the possibility Diaz’s father may already be inside Venezuela even though crossing through thick jungle will have been hazardous.
Police director General William Salamanca said: ‘About that [being in Venezuela], I cannot give any information, I want to be very cautious.
‘I flew over the area and they would have to cross the Perija mountain range, but I think that a human being cannot do it in that area.
The star’s mother (pictured in 2019) has been rescued, but his father is believed to be still being held captive, with authorities continuing the search
A video which surfaced in Colombia showed Diaz’s mother being reunited with her family
‘We were trying to leave some commandos there and we couldn’t because of the denseness of the jungle.
‘Also since last night there has been a blockade that the army made in the lower part of the mountain range, which would be the exit to Venezuela.’
Semana said the search for Diaz’s father has reached a point of ‘stagnation’ with the authorities waiting for the demands of his captors.
The report said Luis Manuel and his wife Cilenis Marulanda were buying watermelons when they were taken by four armed men on motorcycles.
After the police enacted a ‘padlock’ operation to find the couple, the assailants reportedly abandoned Diaz’s stolen car and continued on three motorcycles, two of which were taken from civilians.
Diaz’s mother was freed from her ordeal with a reward of 200 million Colombian pesos [around £40,000] offered by the authorities for information.
Diaz remains in the thoughts of his team-mates as they won 3-0 without him on Sunday
Diaz’s shirt was held up by Diogo Jota and was met by applause at Anfield during Forest clash
The Colombian football association posted on their Instagram account: ‘We ask the captors of Luis Manuel Diaz, father of Luis Diaz, to release him now, without conditions. Football is peace. Lucho, we are with you. Colombia is with you.’
Colombia’s national team coach, Nestor Lorenzo, also issued a plea for Luis Manuel to be returned safely.
He wrote on social media: ‘I fight with you! We pray and cry out for the speedy release of your father safe and healthy. All Colombia is with you.’
A further post read: ‘We continue waiting for the release of Luis Diaz’s father, for sanity to reign, we want him safe and healthy. We are with you Lucho.’
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