REVEALED: Liverpool star Luis Diaz’s father has been captured by a terrorist group, the Colombian government says, with police “confident” a “coordinated” release will take place

Luis Diaz’s father was kidnapped by a left-wing guerrilla group considered terrorists by the United States and the European Union, the Colombian government announced Thursday.

But there was renewed hope after reports in Colombia that the group holding Diaz’s father had confirmed he would be released in the “next few days.” El Tiempo newspaper also reported that police were confident that such a move would be “coordinated.”

Luis Manuel Diaz was arrested at gunpoint along with his wife on Saturday evening.

A major manhunt has been underway since then, and local authorities are now blaming Colombia’s last remaining rebel group, Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN), which translates to “National Liberation Army.” Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was left in a car by kidnappers as police closed in, but the gunmen abducted his father.

Police had raised concerns that he may have been smuggled across Colombia’s northeastern border through dense jungle into Venezuela.

The Colombian government has provided an important update on its search for Luis Diaz’s father

According to the Colombian government, Luis Manuel Diaz was kidnapped by a terrorist group

Diaz’s father Luis Manuel (above) and mother Cilenis Marulanda were kidnapped in Colombia last week and the 26-year-old footballer has since remained in England for “security reasons”.

A statement on Thursday signed by the head of the negotiating team of the Colombian government’s peace delegation, Otty Patino, said: “Today we received official knowledge that the kidnapping was carried out by a unit of the ELN.”

“To the ELN, we call for the immediate release of Mr. Luis Manuel Diaz and remind them that it is their responsibility to guarantee his life and integrity.”

“We remind the ELN that kidnapping is a criminal practice and violates international humanitarian law.”

ELN was founded in 1964 by radical Catholics inspired by the communist revolution in Cuba and was behind several kidnappings in Colombia.

She was behind a car bombing at a police academy in Bogota in 2019 that killed 21 people and injured another 68.

The Liverpool star’s mother (above in 2019, left centre) was rescued after the pair were kidnapped on the streets of Colombia last week, but his father’s whereabouts are still unknown

Diaz’s mother (center) led a community march on Tuesday calling for her husband’s release

Peace talks between the ELN and the Colombian government have been ongoing since March 2020, when the guerrilla group declared a unilateral ceasefire during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Liverpool striker Diaz, 26, has remained in England after learning of the events on Saturday evening.

He was not involved in Sunday’s win over Nottingham Forest or Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth.

According to reports from Colombia, he was not allowed to return to his home country for “security reasons.”

Hundreds of local community members dressed in white banded together, holding balloons