Kidnapped tourist released in Iran

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Aidan Leahy, the Irish tourist who was held captive in Iran for the past month, has been released from captivity by his kidnappers.

An Irish man kidnapped in Iran together with two German tourists was today released by a group claimed to have links with al Qaida.

Aidan Leahy and the other captives are understood to be en route to the Iranian capital Tehran after being freed to meet Irish ambassador Thomas Bolster.

The trio were taken hostage at the beginning of the month while on a cycling trip in a rugged, lawless area of southeast Iran.

Their release was announced by Iran’s Interior Ministry, who also said they were in good health.

Mr Leahy is in his 30s and is understood to have lived in the United Kingdom for some time.

The three men were abducted near the city of Zahedan, capital of the Sistan-Baluchestan province, close to Iran’s borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and were believed to have been cycling from Turkey to India.

The Iranian authorities said the three were snatched by bandits or drug-runners, but reports from Tehran today connected the gang with al Qaida, with the released men reportedly saying their captors appeared to take their orders from abroad.

Both Irish Government sources and officials in Iran indicated soon after the abduction incident that no ransom would be paid if it were demanded.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in touch with Mr Leahy’s family and offered them consular assistance.

The department has not disclosed Mr Leahy’s address or the location of his family.

Foreign Minister Brian Cowen was today in touch with Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi following the release of the three men.