Chinese workers kidnapped in Egypt’s Sinai region by Bedouin tribesmen

Bedouin tribesmen have kidnapped 25 Chinese cement factory workers in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, just days after a large group of Chinese construction workers were captured in Sudan, according to reports.

The BBC reported that the Chinese technicians and engineers were traveling to a military-owned cement factory in the Lehfen area of northern Egypt when gunmen stopped their bus.

They workers were captured, and are being held in a tent with Bedouin men blocking roads in the area, according to the BBC.

Reuters said the kidnappers have demanded the release of five fellow tribesmen jailed after the 2004 bomb attack at the Red Sea resort of Taba, in which 31 people were killed.

"We will not release the Chinese until our demand for the release of these sons of Sinai is met," one tribesman told Reuters.

Beijing has not yet commented on the incident. 

More from GlobalPost: Chinese workers kidnapped by Sudan rebels in South Kordofan

On Saturday, 29 Chinese workers were kidnapped by rebels in Sudan's volatile South Kordofan state, near the border with South Sudan. 

The workers were building a road when their camp was attacked late Saturday by Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North rebels during fighting between the SPLM-N and the Sudanese army.

Chinese state media said Tuesday that a working group has been sent to Sudan to help rescue the Chinese nationals.

Vice foreign minister Xie Hangsheng said Beijing is "deeply shocked" by the abductions, and "much concerned" with the safety of the 29 people, Xinhua reported.

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