An armed group has taken an Australian professor hostage in a remote region of Papua New Guinea
The Australian man who has been captured in Papua New Guinea is an archaeologist who works for an Australian university.
He is not being named – given concerns over how sensitive the situation is.
He has reportedly been captured along with three other researchers.
News of this hostage situation was confirmed by Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape.
“Contact has been made with people in the bush through secondary sources” and warned the captors that “there is no place to run, there is no place to hide”.
Local police said that the hostages are being held at the border of Southern Highlands and Hela provinces.
Police also confirmed that the captors were armed and had demanded cash in return for the safe release of the hostages.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are yet to comment on these reports.
Negotiations are continuing between the captors and locals in the region.
The police and military are also on standby.
