Australian police issued an urgent appeal on Monday, describing it as a “very strange request,” to the kidnappers of an 80-year-old man, urging them to release him because he is not the person they were looking for.
Police reported on Friday that three people kidnapped Chris Baghsarian from his home in North Ryde, located in Sydney’s northern suburbs.
The head of the robbery and serious crime squad stated to journalists on Monday, “I am absolutely certain the kidnappers targeted the wrong person.”
The kidnapping was a mistake
A statement clarified that the perpetrators intended to kidnap a person connected to a criminal network in western Sydney, but the man they actually kidnapped “is not involved in any criminal activity.”
It added, “This was not a random kidnapping; the kidnappers intended to abduct a specific person, but they mistakenly targeted someone else.”
The official appealed to the criminals to release the hostage as soon as possible, acknowledging that his request to them was “very strange.”
Police reported that the victim was wearing gray pajamas and a red and green flannel shirt when he was kidnapped and that he requires daily medical care.
