Two Chinese soccer fans who traveled to Mexico for the World Cup were robbed at gunpoint by masked assailants shortly after landing in the country.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, “one suspect has been arrested after the pair were held up by masked gunmen who stole their passports, cash and watches.” The two victims, identified only by their surnames Wang and Li, had arrived at Mexico City International Airport on Wednesday evening before their vehicle was intercepted.
The terrifying ordeal took place near the airport when two masked individuals on a motorbike forced the car to a halt. The South China Morning Post reported that the gunmen stole “a watch from one of the passengers and almost everything from the other, including his passport.” Following the attack, the traumatized travelers immediately contacted local police and reached out to China’s 24-hour consular protection hotline from their hotel.
Read more: World Cup: Curaçao transforms debut into social media viral phenomenon. The images marking the National Team’s entry into the competition (with video)
The Chinese embassy quickly intervened to provide emergency replacement travel documents, and both victims have since safely returned to China after spending less than 48 hours in the country.
Mexico is co-hosting the massive sporting tournament alongside the United States and Canada, which has prompted a significant influx of international tourists into the capital city. In response to the crime, Mexican federal prosecutors and local police launched a swift investigation, leading to the detention of one suspect on Saturday.
The Chinese embassy has since issued multiple security alerts to its nationals, advising World Cup attendees to avoid carrying large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry, and to keep personal documents stored separately from valuables.
