A Fort Saskatchewan businessman was kidnapped and held for ransom for several hours before being released unharmed, police say.

​The victim was abducted from his business at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, say RCMP in a brief news release.

After the kidnapping was reported, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP and the RCMP Major Crimes division responded "with the primary goal of preservation of life."

RCMP are releasing few details, but said the victim was released by his captors unharmed at 9:30 p.m., the same evening.