The General National Company for Maritime Transport (GNCMT) announced on Monday that it will freeze its activities to protest to the kidnapping of its CEO, Khaled Al-Tawati.

In a statement, the company expressed regret over "the lack of response by government and security agencies to quickly communicate with the company regarding the kidnapping of the CEO," describing the incident as "a forced kidnapping at gunpoint on Sunday while leaving the workplace, in full view of everyone at home and abroad."

A statement on behalf of the company's employees called on "all security authorities to assume their responsibilities and quickly reveal his whereabouts and release him, with no objection to taking legal action in accordance with the legislation in force and human rights." 

On Sunday, sources revealed to Alwasat that Al-Tawati was kidnapped in the Ghout al-Shaal area of Tripoli, while he was returning home from work.

Later, the company said that an unidentified armed group driving 3 civilian cars forcibly kidnapped Al-Tawati as he left the company's headquarters, at 3:30 pm and took him to an unknown destination.

 A video seen by Alwasat showed the kidnappers bare-faced, dressed in civilian clothes, and used civilian cars in the kidnapping.