Anonymous threats to kidnap Austrian athletes in Sochi

An anonymous letter threatening to kidnap two Austrian athletes who are scheduled to attend the Sochi Games has been received by the Austrian Olympic Committee (AOC), authorities said.

The anonymous letter was delivered into the mailbox of AOC's office in Vienna Monday, threatening to kidnap Austrian Alpine skier Marlies Schild and Skeleton player Janine Flock, Xinhua quoted Peter Mennel, the committee's general secretary, as saying.

AOC said it had informed the Federal Criminal Agency and the Russian authority.

Mennel said Austrian athletes will be protected by a police special force when they leave the Olympic Village.

The threat comes after terrorist threats against athletes from European Olympic committees in Sochi, but the expert said that such threats were common before big events.