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      Luis Diaz’s mum holds back tears in emotional plea as she urges guerrilla kidnappers to release Liverpool star’s dad

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      LUIS Diaz’s mum fought back tears today as she urged her husband’s guerrilla kidnappers to release him from his eight-day ordeal.Cilenis Marulanda made her impassioned plea as she took part in a second march to demand Luis Manuel Diaz’s freedom.
      Liverpool’s Diaz (L) with his mum and dad Luis, who remains captiveCredit: Supplied
      Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with her husband’s face and the message “your family is waiting for you”, she told reporters: “I want them to release him now.
      “That the people who are keeping him free him now back to me, because we want to have him back home.”
      The 58-year-old was taken hostage at gunpoint alongside his wife on Saturday October 28 at a petrol station in Colombia.
      The kidnap by communist ELN rebels is believed to have been masterminded by a 40-year-old female fighter called Patricia.
      Colombian authorities have offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for Luis Diaz’s return.
      The kidnap sparked outrage in the South American nation, where Luis Diaz is immensely popular and plays for the national team.
      CCTV footage showed the Díazes being followed by men on motorbikes in their hometown of Barrancas, in the northern province of La Guajira.
      Gunmen then accosted the couple at a petrol station, leaving Cilenis, before police closed in.
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      Protests demanding Luis’s release took place in their home town today.
      Police have been combing the mountainous Serranía del Perijá area near the Venezuelan border for Diaz during a frantic week-long hunt.
      The horror meant Liverpool winger Diaz missed two games for his club but he appeared in Sunday’s fixture against Luton.
      Colombian authorities had offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for his returnCredit: AFP More

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      Luis Diaz returns to training 7 days after dad kidnapped by female guerrilla boss ‘Patricia’ & held by ELN rebels

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      LIVERPOOL winger Luiz Diaz returned to training today – a week after his dad was kidnapped by guerrilla rebels in Colombia.Luis Manuel Díaz Jimenez, 58, was taken hostage at gunpoint alongside his wife last Saturday at a petrol station.
      Diaz’s Liverpool teammates have shown unwavering support throughout his ordeal – this is an old picture of Diaz trainingCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Liverpool’s Diaz (L) with his mum and dad Luis, who remains captiveCredit: Supplied
      The kidnap by communist ELN rebels is believed to have been masterminded by a 40-year-old female fighter called Patricia.
      The horror meant Diaz has missed Liverpool’s last two games.
      But the 26-year-old could be back to face Luton Town on Saturday after rejoining his Reds teammates today.
      Though manager Jürgen Klopp vowed “not to force anything” out of Diaz and said it is up to the starlet “whether he makes himself available or not”.
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      Klopp added: “He was in training two days ago, he had yesterday a session and will be part of the team.
      “We must wait — if he feels right he will be here and train with us. We have just to see how he is and then we go from there.
      “The news from Colombia . . . everything that gives us a little bit of hope is good. We are waiting actually for the really good news but that’s it pretty much.”
      The German manager dedicated Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Forest to Díaz, saying it was “for our brother”.
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      Colombian authorities have offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for Luis Diaz’s return.
      The kidnap sparked outrage in Colombia, where Luis Diaz is immensely popular and plays for the national team.
      CCTV footage showed the Díazes being followed by men on motorbikes in their hometown of Barrancas, in the northern province of La Guajira.
      Gunmen then accosted the couple at a petrol station, leaving the mother, before police closed in.
      Police have been combing the mountainous Serranía del Perijá area near the Venezuelan border for Diaz during a frantic week-long hunt.
      On Friday, Colombian authorities said promises by the ELN to release the father had been broken and he remains a hostage.
      The kidnap is believed to have been masterminded by a female guerrilla fighter called PatriciaCredit: Suministrada
      Colombian authorities had offered a reward of $200,000,000 Peso (£40,600) for his returnCredit: AFP More

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      I’m a hostage expert – making deal to release Luis Diaz’s dad can be done in HOURS…but getting him out is dangerous part

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      A DEAL to save Luis Diaz’s dad could be done in hours – but rescuing him from the kidnappers will be the most dangerous part, a hostage negotiator has warned.Notorious Colombian guerrilla group ELN or National Liberation Army confirmed on Thursday that the group was behind the abduction of the Liverpool star’s dad, Luis Manuel Diaz.
      Luis Diaz’s dad was snatched by a group of gunmen in Colombia
      The Liverpool star’s dad is expected to be released soonCredit: AFP
      Hostage negotiator Scott Walker thinks the rescue operation could be complicated

      And while the guerrilla group has offered fresh hope, promising to free Mr Diaz within hours, a hostage negotiator who has worked in South America says the release of a hostage is the most complicated part of the process.
      Due to the high-profile nature of the kidnapping, ex-Scotland Yard officer Scott Walker believes a deal might be struck soon.
      He believes the peace delegation of the government negotiating with the ELN will want to resolve this “as soon as possible”.
      But Walker said the “recovery and release” of Mr Diaz can be the most dangerous part of the operation.
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      He told The Sun: “Reaching an agreement is not the same as a safe release and recovery.
      “Recovery and release can be the most dangerous as people relax and drop their guard. Yet it’s not over until the hostages are safely back.
      “The Colombian government will want this resolved as quickly and as safely as possible which is why theyre throwing lots of resources at it.
      “The negotiators who engage with the ELN anyway about the peace process will be negotiating for the release of Diaz’s father as part of that as well.”
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      It’s believed a woman known only as Patricia, the leader of one of the regional units of the rebel group, was responsible for orchestrating the abduction.
      A senior Northern War Front member known only as Mateo is said to be holding the 58-year-old hostage with foot soldiers under Patricia’s orders.
      Scott explained that the goal of kidnappers is usually to get “as much money as they can as quickly as they can”.
      But with infamous groups such as the ELN and Farc, there is often “some political concession or some political question” involved, he said.
      The Colombian government is currently engaged in peace talks with ELN and there is a six- months ceasefire.
      “Clearly this guerilla group they are looking somehow to put pressure on those peace talks and increase concessions or even sabotage them,” Walker said.
      Diaz’s father was kidnapped on Saturday night by armed gunmen at a gas station in Barrancas, La Guajira.
      The Liverpool star’s mum, Cilenis Marulanda was also snatched- but was later found in Barrancas.
      Authorities in Colombia have launched a massive police operation to locate the winger’s missing dad and even sniffer dogs were brought in to join the rescue efforts.
      The country’s army has already been joined by an elite police anti-drugs commando squad specialising in complex jungle operations to find the 58-year-old.
      Colombian cops believe the lair of the kidnapping gang is located in the inhospitable jungle terrain of the Perija Mountains near the Venezuelan border.
      Scott believes there is a possibility that the footballer’s dad has been taken across the border to Venezuela – which could make his release even more complicated.
      “The borders at that part of the world are pretty porous so it is a possibility he may be taken over to Venezuela,” he said.
      “It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened and it would obviously make any rescue attempt more difficult if it’s across the border.”
      He explained that even though threats of torture or even murder are commonplace tactics for guerrilla groups, he is confident Luis Diaz’s dad is being treated well.
      He said: “In the vast majority of cases the hostages will be reasonably looked after because it is in the hostage takers interest to do so because it helps with their bargaining power and people arent going to pay a ransome for a corpse.
      “Threats are a commonplace in kidnappings because it puts pressure on the family or the company to pay ransom or give concessions- it’s a standard tactic.”
      Colombian President Gustavo Petro has revealed he has spoken to Diaz personally to reassure him about the government’s efforts to free his dad.
      He said on his official X account: “We have spoken with Luis Diaz yesterday. We are working for the liberation of his father.”
      Earlier this week, Diaz urged his Instagram followers to “march for the release of Mane Diaz”.
      ELN is notorious for massacres and kidnappings is aligned with the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
      Farc launched its guerrilla war against the Colombian government in 1964, after a peasant uprising that was crushed by the army.
      Over the decades, the conflict drew in several leftist rebel groups, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.
      The Marxist-Leninist group, which in Colombia is called the ELN, was founded in 1964 by radical Catholics inspired by Cuba’s communist revolution.
      It was behind a car bombing in January 2019 at a police academy in Bogota which killed 21 people and injured 68 others, making it one of the deadliest attacks ever in the Colombian capital.
      Read More on The Sun
      Peace talks have been going on between the ELN and the Colombian government since March 2020 when the guerrilla group declared a unilateral ceasefire during the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
      Scott is the author of the Order Out of Chaos: How to become a World-Class Communicator and Win Every Negotiation.
      A massive police operation is underway to locate the star’s dadCredit: Rex
      A guerrilla fighter known only as Patricia is suspected of being behind the man’s abductionCredit: Suministrada
      People march during a demonstration for the footballer’s dadCredit: AP More

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      Luis Diaz dad’s kidnapper named as female guerrilla boss ‘Patricia’ …as ELN terrorists say he could be freed ‘in hours’

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      A FEMALE guerrilla fighter known only as Patricia has been named as the mastermind behind the kidnap of Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s dad, it was claimed today.ELN rebels yesterday claimed responsibility for the snatching and offered a glimpse of hope saying Luis Manuel Diaz will be freed “in hours”.
      A female guerrilla fighter known as Patricia could be the one behind the horror kidnappingCredit: Suministrada
      The Liverpool star’s parents were both kidnapped in Barrancas on SaturdayCredit: Supplied
      Authorities have launched a massive search for the Diaz’s missing dad
      “We must recognise the situation you have heard in the news is true and the ELN is going to free Mr Diaz’s father as soon as possible,” ELN representative Juan Carlos Cuellar said.
      Earlier on Thursday, the government’s peace delegation charged with negotiating with the ELN called for Diaz’s father to be released immediately.
      “We remind the ELN that kidnapping is criminal, violates international humanitarian law and that its duty in building the peace process is not just to stop [kidnapping] but to eliminate it forever,” Otty Patino, head of the government’s peace delegation, said in a statement.
      The left-wing guerrilla group has a decades-long history of terror – carrying out military-style assassinations, extortion operations and kidnappings.
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      Colombian newspapers are now reporting the ELN’s so-called Northern War Front, led by the 40-year-old who uses the alias Patricia, carried out Saturday’s kidnapping of Luis Manuel Diaz.
      The veteran insurgent is said to have spent more than half her life at war with the Colombian government.
      She has been identified as the leader of one of the regional units of the left-wing rebel group which has now admitted responsibility for the abduction after being blamed by officials yesterday.
      A senior Northern War Front member known only as Mateo is said to be holding the 58-year-old hostage with foot soldiers under Patricia’s orders.
      Most read in Football
      The ELN, branded a terrorist organisation by the US government and the EU, has claimed it wasn’t aware one of its factions was behind the crime and promised late yesterday Luis’s dad would be released within hours.
      But despite social media speculation a release has already occurred, there has been no official confirmation and critics are branding the ELN claim as “scarcely credible”.
      A quick release might be an option as the Northern War Front currently have a representative at peace talks between the ELN and the government.
      During his negotiations with ELN, Bernardo Tellez said the insurgents have no real desire to free Luis Diaz’s father unless they get paid lots of money to do so.
      A release could also be on the table if the group’s leaders lose control over their regional units – either due to ELN infighting or if the Colombian government succeeds in ceasefire negotiations with the group.
      It comes as President Gustavo Petro promised to bring “total peace to Colombia” by negotiating directly with the country’s armed groups, Al Jazeera reports.
      Not much information has emerged about Patricia, apart from a grainy photo of her in military fatigues.
      She reportedly began her guerrilla career in 2006, rising through the ranks of the ELN to become leader of the December 6 Front and later a senior member of the Northern War Front.
      Patricia is said to have spent 26 years fighting for the violent guerrilla organisation which finances itself from criminal practices including extortion and kidnapping.
      The ELN operates as a federation with regional units enjoying high levels of autonomy.
      The group often implements different strategies according to their local needs.
      Colombian President Gustavo Petro has revealed he has spoken to Luis Diaz personally to reassure him about the government’s efforts to free his dad.
      The Liverpool star spoke to the director of Colombia’s National Police force shortly after Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped on Saturday.
      William Rene Salamanca Ramirez told the anguished striker every effort was being made to find the missing 58-year-old.
      Yesterday evening, after the Colombian government confirmed the ELN was behind the kidnap, Mr Petro confirmed he had spoken to the footballer.
      He said on his official X account: “We have spoken with Luis Diaz yesterday.
      “We are working for the liberation of his father.”
      Luis’s relatives prayed for his dad’s safe return at a church near their home overnight.
      The father-of-four and his wife Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped on Saturday afternoon at a petrol station in his their home town of Barrancas in the region of La Guajira near Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
      Cilenis was abandoned by her captors hours later by the roadside as the police and army hunt for them intensified and reunited with her anguished family.
      An elite police commando squad is focusing its search for Luis Diaz’s dad on the inhospitable Perija Mountains on Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
      Two sniffer dogs called Laticha and Tekila have also been brought in to help.
      A reward of up to £40,000 has been offered by the authorities for information.
      Colombia’s police chief said earlier this week he believed Luis Manuel Diaz’s captors remained in the country and had not fled across the border to Venezuela as first feared.
      On Tuesday afternoon relatives, friends and well-wishers took to the streets of Barrancas to demand his liberation.
      The march began at 5pm local time and finished at the home of Luis Diaz’s parents.
      Locals started decking out shopfronts with white balloons ahead of the protest and preparing banners which read: ‘No Al Secuestro’ and Liberenlo Ya’ – which would translate into English as ‘No To Kidnap’ and ‘Free him now.’
      One local shopkeeper speaking ahead of the street demo said: “We are asking for the swift release of Mane Diaz, the father of Luis Diaz.
      “We want him to return to Barrancas. He needs to return to his family.”
      In a direct message to the captors, he added: “Please, free him. He’s done nothing wrong.”
      In an official statement attributing the kidnapping to the ELN, the Colombian government delegation taking part in the peace talks said yesterday: “We have today been made aware the kidnap carried out on October 28 in Barrancas in the La Guajira region, which Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda the mother and father of football player Luis Fernando Diaz Marulanda were victims of, was perpetrated by a unit belonging to the ELN.
      “Despite Mrs Marulanda being freed hours later, the player’s father has now been kidnapped for five days.
      “As the government delegation for the peace talks with the ELN, we express our solidarity with Luis Diaz, his relatives, with the whole country and with the millions of fans of the footballer.
      “We demand the ELN frees Mr Luis Manuel Diaz immediately and we make it clear here that it is their sole responsibility to guarantee his life and integrity.
      “We remind the ELN that kidnap is a criminal practice which violates International Humanitarian Law and that in the current peace talks process, it is their responsibility not only to stop committing this crime but also to eliminate it for ever.”
      The abduction of civilians has been a traditional practice of the ELN.
      In January 2018 the rebel group kidnapped an oil engineer in the north of Colombia.
      He was named at the time as 41-year-old Andres Riano Ravelo.
      Two Dutch journalists were kidnapped by the group in June 2017, the Colombian military said.
      The ELN said in June when it agreed a ceasefire with the government that it would continue with the twin crimes of kidnapping and extortion “where necessary,” describing them as being essential to the group’s “finances.”
      A negotiator for the group said at the time: “We don’t talk about kidnap, we talk about retentions. If they are not necessary they won’t happen.”
      The Marxist-Leninist ELN, or National Liberation Army in English, was founded in 1964 by radical Catholics inspired by Cuba’s communist revolution.
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      It was behind a car bombing in January 2019 at a police academy in Bogota which killed 21 people and injured 68 others, making it one of the deadliest attacks ever in the Colombian capital.
      Peace talks have been going on between the ELN and the Colombian government since March 2020 when the guerrilla group declared its unilateral ceasefire.

      A sign asking for the release of the father of Liverpool’s Colombian forward Luis Diaz in Barrancas, ColombiaCredit: AFP
      The winger’s dad was kidnapped on Saturday by armed men at a gas station in his hometown of BarrancasCredit: AFP More

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      Brazilian footballer Felipe Diogo shot dead aged 21 after mystery gunmen open fire on return visit to hometown

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      BRAZILIAN football has been plunged into mourning after striker Felipe Diogo was killed in a street shoot-out.The 21-year-old played for Sao Paulo-based Serie C club Sao Bernardo.
      Brazilian footballer Felipe Diogo sadly passed away at just 21 years oldCredit: Getty

      He helped them win promotion last season and had made five appearances so far this term.
      But Diogo was attacked by mystery gunmen during a return visit to his home town Ribeirao Preto on Tuesday.
      Police sources revealed he was hit by around ten bullets, and although emergency services rushed the player to hospital he could not be saved.
      Local police have opened an enquiry and revealed they are keeping open minds as to the motive for the killing.
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      Diogo came through the academies of top Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Botafogo before making his senior bow with Sao Bernardo last year.
      He had previously had success with the U20s side in 2021 where he impressed enough to catch the attention of the first team.
      He made 18 appearances for the club, scoring four times.
      The club paid tribute to him on social media.
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      They wrote: “Sao Bernardo laments with enormous sorrow the news of the death of our player Felipe Diogo Bernardes Ferreira (Felipe Diogo).
      “May God comfort the hearts of his family in this moment of profound grief.” More

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      Sniffer dogs brought in as hunt for Luis Diaz’s dad closes in on gang’s jungle lair after Liverpool star breaks silence

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      SNIFFER dogs have been brought in by Colombian police as they close in on the location of Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s kidnapped dad.Colombian authorities believe the lair of the kidnapping gang is located in the inhospitable jungle terrain of the Perija Mountains near the Venezuelan border.
      Cilenis Marulanda (left), mother of Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, demonstrates for her kidnapped husband in Barrancas, ColombiaCredit: AFP
      Police have brought in sniffer dogs to join the hunt for Luis Manuel Diaz in the Colombian jungleCredit: EPA
      Colombian authorities believe the lair of the kidnapping gang is located in the inhospitable jungle terrain of the Perija Mountains near the Venezuelan borderCredit: AFP
      Liverpool forward Luis Diaz has broken his silence following the kidnapping of his parents on SaturdayCredit: Rex
      Colombian police are confident that Diaz’s father and his captors are still in the country
      Two German Shepherd dogs called Laticha and Tekila have now joined the hunt and Colombian police chiefs say more will be introduced as they close in on Luis Manuel Diaz’s captors.
      The dogs are said to have been trained in detecting the smell of clothes, suggesting they have already been exposed to the scent of Diaz’s father.
      The country’s army have already been joined by an elite police anti-drugs commando squad specialising in complex jungle operations to find the 58-year-old.
      Now, Colombian National Police director William Rene Salamanca Ramirez has confirmed that sniffer dogs have joined the search.
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      He said: “There are two dogs with their guides.
      “Tekila and Leticha join the search to extend the capabilities the government has established with the police and military to locate the father of Luis Diaz.
      “We are initiating this activity now and more dogs will come to help us in this search.”
      He added: “These dogs have participated in important rescue operations in several places, including the jungle. That’s why they’re here.”
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      Local media are reporting police intelligence experts have identified seven key sites as part of an operation to stop the captors reaching Venezuela with their hostage.
      It is understood the hunt is focusing on the banks of rivers and streams in the inhospitable Perija Mountains – on the basis the gang need to be near water to survive.
      Fears had been mounting after Saturday’s kidnap, in which Diaz’s mum Cilenis Marulanda was also abducted before being rescued hours later, that the criminal gang had already reached Venezuela.
      But yesterday, General Salamanca said he was confident they were still in Colombia after choppering in elite counter-narcotics commanders to hunt them down.
      He insisted: “The information we have is that they are still in Colombian territory but the search is continuing.”
      Local reports say Luis Manuel’s captors are believed to be on foot, having dumped the motorbikes they used to evade capture on Saturday.
      A reward of up to 200million Colombian pesos, around £40,000, has been offered by the authorities for any information.
      On Tuesday afternoon, relatives, friends and well-wishers took to the streets of Barrancas, in the border region of La Guajira, to demand the liberation of “Mane”.
      It prompted Liverpool forward Diaz, who has been advised to stay in England, to break his public silence following Saturday’s kidnap of his parents.
      In a social media post, Diaz urged people to join the march shortly before it started.
      Alongside a picture of promotional poster, he said: “Take your candle to ignite the light of hope.”
      The march began at 5pm local time and finished at the home of Diaz’s parents.
      Locals decked out shopfronts with white balloons and prepared banners ahead of the protest.
      They read: “No Al Secuestro” and “Liberenlo Ya” – “No To Kidnap” and “Free Him Now”.
      Many children took part in the march holding up white balloons and wearing Colombian tops with Luis Diaz’s name and shirt number on it.
      A local armed with a loudspeaker asked the crowd of protestors: “What does Barrancas demand for Mane Diaz?”.
      He received the rapturous reply: “Libertad, Libertad, Libertad” (Freedom, Freedom, Freedom).
      Human Rights’ officials in Colombia have also urged the kidnappers to use their “humanitarian channels” to facilitate the swift release of Diaz’s father.
      The country’s Ombudsman Carlos Camargo called on the captors to respect his “integrity and life” as he begged them to contact regional assistants to find a way to resolve the dramatic situation.
      Read More on The Sun
      “We reiterate the call to the captors of the father of our beloved soccer player ‘Lucho’ Díaz: respect his integrity and life'” Mr Camargo said.
      “We also make another call to you: contact our regional human rights’ defence teams to find a route that permits his prompt release, safe and sound.”
      Both of Diaz’s parents were kidnapped on Saturday but his mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued shortly afterCredit: Supplied
      Gabriel Diaz, Luis Diaz’s uncle, participates in a sit-in with friends, family and locals asking for the release of his kidnapped brother in Barrancas, Colombia, on TuesdayCredit: EPA
      The protest march began at 5pm local time and finished at the home of Diaz’s parentsCredit: EPA
      Locals decked out shopfronts with white balloons and prepared banners ahead of the protestCredit: AFP More

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      Ex-Man Utd star Chris Smalling’s Rome house ‘burgled’ as crooks ‘break in through window and try to escape with safe’

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      A GANG of burglars reportedly broke into Chris Smalling’s home and tried to steal a safe.The former Manchester United star will be questioned by police to get an account of what was stolen.
      Chris Smalling was a target of Burglars in his house in ItalyCredit: Rex
      He is married to Sam Cooke and has a son called LeoCredit: instagram
      The burglars were said to be ‘professionals’Credit: PA:Press Association
      Smalling, 33, is currently playing his trade for Roma in the Serie A.
      Italian media have claimed that his home in Tor Carbone in the Appia Antica area was targeted by thugs on Monday.
      It is reported that a gang broke into his home by smashing a window.
      It goes on to say that they attempted to steal a safe from the house after failing to break into it.
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      Police are said to be investigating the scene and a forensic team have been called in.
      The media have claimed that the gang are “professionals” and are suspected to have come from Eastern Europe.
      SunSport have contacted local police for comment
      It comes two years after the defender was robbed at gunpoint.
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      They have lived in Italy since 2020
      The couple got married in 2017Credit: instagram
      In 2021, Smalling was robbed in front of his wife Sam Cooke and toddler son Leo when three hooded men broke into his home.
      The incident left the family “very distressed” as they required support from the police.
      Smalling signed for Roma in 2020 after a successful loan spell with the club.
      During his time at Old Trafford, he won two Premier League titles after joining from Fulham.
      He married former Page 3 glamour model Sam in June 2017.
      The couple’s son Leo was born before they moved to Italy.
      Smalling is currently sidelined with injury, having played his last match on September 1.
      Earlier this year he rejected Premier League interest in order to stay at Roma and signed a two-year contract extension. More

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      Cops hunting for Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s kidnapped dad offer reward as elite commandos drafted in to scour jungle

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      COPS hunting for Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s dad have offered a reward as the search to find the kidnapped parent continues.A reward of up to £40,000 has been offered by Colombian authorities for information as elite commandos scour the jungle in search for answers.
      Colombian authorities issued a £40,000 reward to help find Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s kidnapped fatherCredit: AFP
      Colombia’s elite Jungle Commandos are scouring the jungle in the Venezuelan borderCredit: Instagram / policiadecolombia
      Soldiers are simultaneously patrolling the area on foot by following road routes heading to VenezuelaCredit: Instagram / policiadecolombia
      Diaz’s parents were kidnapped on Saturday night by armed gunmen at a gas station in their home town of Barrancas, La Guajira, in Colombia’s northern region.
      Colombia’s top police chief says he is confident the captors are still in the country amid fears that the kidnappers had managed to smuggle the winger’s dad into Venezuela.
      But Colombia’s National Police director William Salamanca Ramirez insisted “the information we have is that they are still in Colombian territory but the search is continuing.”
      Luiz Manuel Diaz’s captors are on foot after dumping the motorbikes they used to evade capture, local media reported.
      More on the Diaz kidnapping
      The Liverpool player’s mum, Cilenis Marulanda, was later rescued after being found in Barrancas on Saturday, but her husband is yet to be found.
      It is understood that arrest warrants have been issued for several suspects after cops identified four of them.
      Colombia President Gustavo Petro said “all the public forces have been deployed” to find Diaz’s father.
      That includes two motorised platoons, unmanned aircraft, helicopters and a plane with radar in a full-scale search.
      Most read in Football
      The country’s elite Jungle Commandos have been focusing on the Perija Mountains straddling the Colombian-Venezuelan border, which is covered by cloud forest.
      General Salamanca told local media late yesterday: “These men can be in areas like this for a fortnight with just one field ration.
      “They are trained and prepared for that.”
      Colombian Army soldiers are simultaneously patrolling the area on foot by following road routes heading to Venezuela.
      Colonel Giovanni Montanez said: “We are closing off roads in accordance with military intelligence and carrying out searches.”
      Locals in Barrancas are due to stage a protest march to demand the liberation of the footballer’s dad later today.
      Some of his relatives are expected to lead the march, but it was not clear if his mum would be taking part.
      It comes after the Liverpool winger, 26, was urged not to head back to his homeland amid safety concerns, the Mirror reports.
      Overnight, Luis Manuel Diaz’s relative Asmiris Brito said God was accompanying him.
      “God is with him, accompanying him, that’s the hope we have, that he returns safe and well,” he told local media.
      Alejandro Zapata, deputy director of Colombia’s National Police, indicated yesterday they were closing the net on the kidnap gang, but was not in a position to name names.
      He said, before reports of the arrest warrants emerged, that he wasn’t in a position to name names.
      But he said investigators were “clear about people who could be linked” to Saturday’s abduction of Luis Manuel Diaz and Cilenis Marulanda in their home town of Barrancas.
      Read More on The Sun
      Mr Zapata confirmed investigators were treating the kidnap as a “premeditated crime” which had been meticulously planned.
      He added: “When something like this happens, it is generally not spontaneous and there has been previous planning, people that draw people to a certain place, that is, who place them somewhere so that others arrive and that’s what we are investigating.”
      Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was also taken but was later rescued after being found in the city of Barrancas the same nightCredit: Supplied
      The Liverpool winger, 26, was reportedly urged not to head back home for safety reasonsCredit: PA More