Mexico arrests alleged mastermind of soccer player Alan Pulido's abduction

Federal police of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico on Wednesday arrested Osvaldo Velazquez, identified as the alleged mastermind of soccer player Alan Pulido's abduction over the weekend.

Tamaulipas state prosecutor Ismael Quintanilla explained that Velazquez, 29, is the husband of a cousin of the striker, who plays for the Greek fooball team Olympiakos, and that he was also at the party that the forward attended before he was robbed of his freedom by four kidnappers, reports Efe.

Pulido formed part of the Mexican national team in the World Cup in Brazil 2014. He was on vacations in Mexico when he was kidnapped at dawn on Sunday.

Alan reportedly attacked one of the kidnappers when they were distracted, took his cell phone and called to be rescued from where they held him captive, in the south of Victoria. He was freed shortly after.

Along with Pulido's rescue, police arrested one of the kidnappers, Daniel Morales, who has been interrogated in recent hours. According to Quintanilla, he gave clues that led to the capture of Velazquez.

Being surrounded, Velazquez started firing at the police and was shot in the right shoulder and suffered a small neck injury. He was then taken to a hospital where he is guarded by police.

According to authorities, the detainee is investigated for his link with a criminal group that sells and transports drugs and extorts local residents.

--IANS

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