Related: PNA ministry condemns kidnapping of 2 foreigners in Gaza 

   

Palestinian security men guard in front of the American school where two foreign teachers were kidnapped in northern Gaza December 21, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters)

GAZA, Dec. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Two foreign teachers were abducted by unknown gunmen in northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian security sources and witnesses said.

    Hindrich Tatchken, the principal of the American International School in Gaza and his deputy Brian Improjio, an Australian, were kidnapped by four masked and armed militants in the Nasser Street in the Gaza City, security sources said.

    Witnesses said that the gunmen stopped the car of the two and bundled them into another car and took them to an unknown place.

    Meanwhile, school officials confirmed that both had been kidnapped and the school had informed the Dutch and the Australian embassies, adding that the two have always been showing solidarity and sympathy with the Palestinian people.

    Tatchken had repeatedly sent letters of protest to the Israeli army for the sonic-bomb and airstrikes carried out over the Gaza Strip, blaming it for scaring and panicking Palestinian children,said the school.

    Police said that Palestinian security forces immediately started to search for the two foreigners and contacted different militant groups to figure out who kidnapped them and what they want.

    There have been kidnappings of foreigners in Gaza over the past two years, in which most of the kidnappers were asking the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) for solving their personal problems. Enditem