Police were yesterday trying to trace two African wrestlers who mysteriously disappeared after landing in Scotland for the Commonwealth Games.
The athletes, from Cameroon, were reported missing from their training base at Aberdeen Sports Village just before noon on Tuesday.
The pair, believed to be aged 31 and 26, were last spotted at 8.30pm on Sunday near the Hillhead student halls close to their base.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Two men were reported missing from the Old Aberdeen area on Tuesday morning.
“One male is described as black, about 5ft 8in tall and wearing black trousers and jumper, a white body warmer and a black woolly hat.
“The other male is described as black, 5 ft 4 ins tall and is of thin build, has a prominent scar on his left cheek and was wearing sports clothing.
“Anyone with any information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact Aberdeen Police on 101.”
It is thought the pair, part of a 70-strong team which arrived last week, may have run away to escape hardship in their home country.
At the London Olympics in 2012 seven athletes from the African state, including the entire boxing team and half its swimming team, absconded.
The Cameroon government later said the disappearance had been for “economic reasons”.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to many parts of the country citing the threat of violence.
The FCO website says: “There is a general threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. Kidnappings have taken place as recently as April 2014 in an area to which the FCO advise against all travel.
Boko Haram has publicly threatened Cameroon with attacks and further kidnappings.” A spokesman from the Cameroon High Commission in London said: “The men went straight from Cameroon to the UK for their pre-training before the Games. “It is currently unclear what the situation is but we will now start our own investigation and will be liaising with the local authorities in Scotland.”
The spokesman would not comment on any motive behind the wrestlers’ move. ENDS