Relative of Mexico footballer Alan Pulido held over kidnapping after shoot-out

Police investigating the kidnap of Mexican football star Alan Pulido have arrested his cousin’s husband. Osvaldo Velazquez Garcia, 29, is suspected of ordering the player’s kidnapping, which took place over the weekend. A 38-year-old accomplice said Garcia masterminded the kidnapping, in which a ransom of $325,000 was demanded. Pulido’s car was intercepted by four armed men as he travelled home from a party in his hometown of Ciudad Victoria, in the state of Tamaulipas.

Everyone began to activate to look for him, especially when we knew who he was, because we knew it was going to make a big ruckus and was going to be affecting us a lot in the press.

Attorney General Ismael Quintanilla

Pulido, who plays for Greek side Olympiakos, was held at gunpoint for almost 24 hours, but apparently made his escape when he was left alone with just one kidnapper and managed to overpower him. Pulido grabbed a phone and called police, who turned up within minutes. Garcia was wounded and detained during the ensuing police shootout, according to state prosecutor Ismael Quintanilla. The prosecutor said the suspect called the other kidnappers to tell them when the player had left the event, and told him what type of car he was driving.

Alan Pulido