( CNN ) -- Two American tourists who were kidnapped in the southern part of Egypt 's Sinai Peninsula were freed Friday , a security official said . They had been abducted by unknown Bedouins , said Gen. Mohamed Naguib , head of security in the region . The kidnappers had demanded that some detainees be released and retried , but it is unclear if these calls were met . Earlier Friday , the country 's tourism minister said on Al Hayat Egyptian TV that authorities had located the kidnappers and were negotiating with them . The abductions came several days after kidnappers held a larger group for a day . Twenty-four Chinese workers and a translator were kidnapped by Bedouins while on their way to a military-owned cement factory on Tuesday , the state-run Xinhua news agency of China reported . A group of armed Bedouins had blocked the road on which they were traveling . They wanted the Egyptian government to release prisoners . The hostages were released after a day , the news agency said , after Egyptian authorities intervened . Kidnappings and daylight armed robberies have become increasingly common in the turbulent year since Egypt 's long-ruling dictator Hosni Mubarak was overthrown . In particular , wealthy Egyptians have been targeted by hostage-takers demanding ransom . `` Two of our family members , Ismail , ( age ) 13 and Sara , 8 , were kidnapped yesterday . Right after they got out of their house ... on their way to school , '' said Mamdouh Eid , an executive in a construction company and the executive director of the Fan 's Committee for the popular Egyptian soccer team Al Ahly . Eid revealed news of the kidnapping of his family , during an interview with CNN about the rampage in a Port Said football stadium that left at least 79 people dead . Hours after he survived the deadly incident , Eid said he learned of the kidnapping of his two child cousins . `` Thankfully , we got them back last night , '' he said . He declined to explain how the children were returned to their parents . `` Its scary . We do n't know what we 're heading to and if it will ever be the same again . ''
NEW : The two hostages have been freed , an official says . The Americans had been kidnapped in the Sinai peninsula , authorities said . Another group was abducted this week .