[WATCH] Video shows moment abducted Maltese man was rescued in Libya

Video shows rescue of Pierre Baldacchino in Libya by Rada militia forces

A newly-released video allegedly shows the moment Maltese citizen Pierre Baldacchino was rescued from unknown assailants who had kidnapped him for ransom in Libya.

The video, which bears the logo of Tripoli’s Rada militia group, starts out blurry – showing Rada forces dressed in police gear storming a house, coming across a handcuffed Baldachino, and arresting his kidnappers.

The video then snaps to Baldacchino sobbing and tightly embracing a man, who he later identifies as ‘Dr Hashem’.

“He is one of my best friends, he is like a brother to me,” Baldacchino says. “He was the person [my kidnappers] were talking to about my ransom. They ended up threatening him and his family that they would bomb them.”

The scene then shifts to Baldacchino sitting down in a room in front of a large Rada logo, where he identifies himself as a 36-year-old Maltese national who works in Libya with St. James Hospital.

“I have just been released by Rada from a week-long kidnapping,” he says. “On Monday 4 December, I was heading home from work with two colleagues. As we approached the end of the highway, a car crossed in front of me and four fully-armed and blindfolded men came out of it.

“I tried to reverse my car and escape. However, when I realized that they had guns on them and that I had people with me, I thought it better to surrender and see what will happen.”

He then recounted how he was tossed into their car, stripped and searched for GPS devices, tased, blindfolded, and tied up with cable wires.

“We drove off at an uncontrolled space and eventually stopped somewhere when it got dark. They were waiting for some calls or something. They were asking me questions about my salary, my bank account and my job.”

“On Saturday I spoke to Dr Hashem and I realized that something was going on.

Today [22 December], they informed me that they were going to change the location because my people had informed the authorities.

“I prayed all the time and the prayers were heard. Today at 1 am, I couldn’t sleep as the person who was guarding me snores like crazy. All of a sudden, I heard some noises and started to pray immediately. I felt the door going on and it was like seeing angels. I was afraid that they’d shoot me so I raised my handcuff-tied hands.

“As soon as they saw them they realized who I was. On behalf of my family and my company, I thank you so much for saving my life.”