Vietnamese envoy escapes Brazilian abductors

Embassy counselor Vu Thanh Nam was in a taxi, along with his father, brother and brother-in-law, en route to Rio’s famed Christ the Redeemer statue Saturday when the vehicle was stopped by eight gunmen.

The assailants released the family members but abducted Vu after he identified himself as an embassy official, said a Rio police spokeswoman who declined to be identified citing departmental rules.

After stealing cash and a few personal items, they shoved Vu in the trunk of one of three getaway cars and sped away, she added.

“Vu Thanh Nam somehow managed to escape from the men who abducted him on Saturday and hid him in a shantytown,” a Rio de Janeiro police inspector said Sunday. “Unfortunately I cannot provide any more information so as not to jeopardize our investigation.”

The inspector declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

There were no reports of a ransom request for Vu.

Police believe the same gunmen kidnapped three Chinese tourists who were also headed to visit the famed statue on Saturday. Witnesses told police they saw the gunmen stop their bus, empty it of passengers and steal cash, watches and jewelry before fleeing with three tourists, the police spokeswoman said.

Police were still searching for three Chinese tourists on Sunday, the Rio police inspector said.

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