A Portuguese businessman aged around 52 was kidnapped at around 12 noon today in the city of Maputo.

The kidnapping took place on Armando Tivane Avenue, in the Polana district, while the victim was preparing to enter a high-rise building near his home, according to reliable sources.

Five men armed with AKM 47s approached the Portuguese businessman as he was getting out of his car and took him to an unknown location.

According to reports at the scene, the criminals fired into the air to prevent any attempt at help, in an action that lasted around two minutes.

The Police of the Republic of Mozambique, including the Criminal Investigation Service, went to the scene in order to collect some traces that could lead to the location of the kidnappers.

After a period of relative calm, the wave of kidnappings is once again creating terror and panic in the city of Maputo, which has been the preferred location for perpetrators of this type of crime.

There have been two kidnapping attempts in recent weeks, one on October 11 in Maputo and the other in Xai-Xai (Gaza).