U.K.: Romanians, Kosovar Albanians Arrested As Beckham Kidnapping Is Foiled

rferl ^ | November 4, 2002 | Kathleen Knox

[joan]

British soccer star David Beckham is stepping up security at his English mansion after British tabloid journalists uncovered a plot to kidnap his pop star wife, Victoria -- better known as "Posh Spice" -- and their two young children. Police arrested nine suspects -- mostly Romanians -- in connection with the plot and have charged five of them with theft.

Prague, 4 November 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Britain's top celebrity couple, Manchester United and England national team soccer star David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria, are stepping up their personal security after details emerged this weekend of a plot to kidnap her and possibly their two children.

The "News of the World," a British Sunday tabloid, uncovered a plot to kidnap Victoria -- known also as "Posh Spice," a member of the now-defunct band the Spice Girls -- and possibly her two young sons, 3-year-old Brooklyn and 2-month-old Romeo. "News of the World" reported the kidnappers were planning to demand five million pounds (nearly $8 million) in ransom.

But thanks to the journalists' undercover investigation, and their tip-off to British police, the would-be kidnappers -- a gang of Romanians and Kosovo Albanians -- never carried out their alleged plan.

"News of the World" Deputy Editor Andy Coulson says, "After several weeks of investigation we discovered a plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham and her two sons. Posing as members of the gang, we brought the kidnap attempt to a head working closely with Scotland Yard (London police)."

"News of the World" splashed the story under the headline "Posh Kidnap -- We Foil Crime of the Century."

The article that follows is no less dramatic. With the help of a fake criminal "resume," a "News of the World" reporter infiltrated a gang of Romanian and Kosovo Albanian art thieves about three weeks ago.

The gang soon set their sights higher than jewels and old books. Instead, they hatched a plan to ambush 28-year-old Victoria Beckham as she drove from her home and sedate her and anyone else in the car with a chloroform spray.

The reporter's concocted story and phony resume was apparently so plausible he was hired as a "getaway driver" for the kidnappers.

One of the gang allegedly told him: "If the kids are with her, it's even better. We ask David Beckham for 5 million pounds. It's 100 percent (guaranteed) he pays. But if something happens and he don't pay, Victoria is going to die."

At the weekend, the gang turned up at a London hotel believing they were about to sell a haul of art treasures -- including a jeweled crown -- stolen from a London auction house.

But the "buyers" were also from the "News of the World," and at a prearranged signal from the reporters, police swooped in on the gang.

Nine suspects were arrested over the weekend -- though one woman was later released -- and five were charged today with theft and conspiracy to rob. No kidnapping charges have yet been made, but police are continuing their inquiries.

"News of the World" Managing Editor Stuart Kuttner says, "These are seriously dangerous criminals. I mean, they were armed criminals. In fact, the plan was if they did not get the money, if they did not get the ransom -- if it wasn't paid for Victoria Beckham -- they said frankly, 'We will kill her.'"

[F-117A]

Bump!

[gaijin]

gang of Romanians and Kosovo Albanians

Ah yes....the vaunted ETHNIC ALBANIANS!

The clerisy of the American left laid it out neatly for us;

The ethnic albanians were the "Jews", and the Serbs were the "nazis".

I remember that VERY clearly.

I cannot tell you how many times I saw the same CNN clips of these pathetic babushkas all bundled up in their ethnic-y kerchiefs, and their endearing, troubled looks, and the way the American media swallowed wholesale all the wildest stories about "mineshafts choked full of dead ethnic Albanians, slaughtered by evil Serbs..."

Now we are bombing their more easterly muslim breathren into the stone age, and now these same American leftists change their tune, declaring that no, wait...these MUSLIMS are now the nazis....

SEE AND REMEMBER.

[Destro]

Did they have Rick Rubin's London cell phone number on them?