World Cup: Three journalists robbed at gunpoint during the night inside their hotel
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
A Portuguese photographer and two journalists, one of them from Spain, were robbed at gunpoint Wednesday inside their hotel in Magaliesburg, about 75 miles north of Johannesburg.
None of the three was physically harmed, although the photographer, identified as Antonio Simoes, was traumatized after a gun was stuck in his face while he lay in bed as the thieves made off with more than $35,000 in cameras and other photographic equipment.
The two thieves reportedly yelled, ‘Sleep, sleep,’ at Simoes while the robbery took place, according to Spanish journalist Miguel Serrano, who also was robbed in his room. The third victim was not identified.
The incident took place at the Nutbush Boma Lodge in Magaliesburg and was under investigation by police.
--Grahame L. Jones, reporting from Irene, South Africa