MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine Crime Wave Hits AP, Others

Gunmen entered a 13-story office tower housing The Associated Press and other organizations Sunday, tying up and blindfolding about 10 people as they went floor by floor stealing valuables.

During the holdup, three gunmen entered the AP's offices in the downtown Buenos Aires building and took a correspondent hostage, among others. Other witnesses said there may have been more gunmen involved in the operating last more than two hours.

No one was reported injured and no shots fired. But those held in the building said they were taken at gunpoint and kept blindfolded in a ground floor lobby while offices were rifled.

The holdup comes amid a crime wave that has spiraled out of control ever since Argentina descended into its deepest economic crisis on record. Half of the 36 million population lives in poverty and joblessness has topped a record 22 percent.

Only Friday, tens of thousands of Argentines took to the streets of the capital in a "march for peace" that demanded authorities do something to halt rising crime. Many honked horns noisily or threw shredded paper from office buildings in protest.

The crime has included holdups in taxi cabs, carjackings and even "express kidnappings" in which victims are held for hours or days while the captors negotiate ransom payments with their families.

The gunmen who entered the building housing the AP offices blindfolded hostages. "If you keep calm, nothing will happen!" one shouted. "We don't want to hurt you."

More than two hours after they entered the building the gunmen then left one by one, trying not to attract attention. Federal police were called soon after and began an investigation.