Robberies, Attacks Target Tourists in Mexico

Latin America

Mexico: Several American visitors fell prey to violent crime in Mexico during the past month:

* A Vermont woman was raped and murdered on a Oaxaca state beach about 35 miles east of Puerto Escondido, a popular tourist site.

* In Mexico City, a Texas magazine journalist was shot and critically wounded after robbers hijacked his taxicab. The victim and three friends had hailed the green-and-white cab at Garibaldi Plaza, a popular tourist spot. After the killing of an American real estate executive in December, the U.S. Embassy warned tourists to avoid street taxis and use only those summoned by phone.

* Also in the capital, a CNN camera crew was held up at gunpoint and robbed of its van and camera equipment outside the Mexican Foreign Ministry. Police observed the robbery but did nothing, according to the Reuters news service.

Russia

Moscow: Two young Asian women were severely beaten by skinheads 12 days ago, and skinhead groups have reportedly threatened the lives of Asian and African students in Moscow. The U.S. Embassy warned Americans, “particularly students of African and Asian origin,” to be cautious while in the Russian capital.

Kroll Associates, the business-intelligence firm that has labeled Moscow one of the world’s 10 most dangerous cities for business travelers, advises how to minimize security risks while visiting the city. Among the suggestions:

* Hotels with relatively good security records include the Moscow Olympic Penta Renaissance and the Hotel Kempinski Baltschug Moskau. Guests should never open the door for unexpected callers. Prostitutes frequent virtually all of Moscow’s hotels and sometimes work with criminals to target guests.

* Driving in Russia should be avoided if possible. Visitors should use official taxis arranged through hotels and should never get into a taxi that is already occupied. The overnight train between Moscow and St. Petersburg has seen an increase in robberies and is not recommended.

* Pickpocket gangs, sometimes using children to distract their targets, work the areas around major hotels, popular restaurants, historic squares and other tourist attractions.

Briefly . . .

Italy: Police advised women not to travel alone on trains as the murders of two women last month led to fears that a serial killer is operating in northwestern Italy. Both women were shot to death in restrooms aboard trains on the Ventimiglia-Genoa-Venice line. . . . Turkey: A bomb exploded in a park in the heart of Istanbul’s tourist district, wounding nine people, including three foreigners, and police suspected Kurdish separatists. . . . Guatemala: An American backpacker was wounded by two gunmen and robbed while hiking toward Mayan ruins in the remote northeast. The U.S. Embassy advises tourists in the area to join organized tours. . . . Egypt: In a brief announcement, the State Department said it has information “of undetermined reliability” that extremist groups may be planning terrorist attacks soon against U.S. interests in Cairo. Americans are advised “to exercise greater than usual caution.” . . . Laos: Citing “serious concerns” about safety standards on domestic flights of Lao Aviation, Laos’ national airline, the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane has told its personnel to limit travel on that airline to essential trips only. Other embassies and international organizations have followed suit. Americans traveling within Laos “may wish to defer their travel or consider alternate means of transportation,” the State Department says.

The U.S. State Department offers recorded travel warnings and advisories at (202) 647-5225; the fax line is (202) 647-3000. Internet address is https://travel.state.gov.

Wright is a former assistant foreign editor at The Times. His column appears monthly.