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| Alan Pulido: Seized Mexico footballer freed | Alan Pulido: Seized Mexico footballer freed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| International football player Alan Pulido has been rescued in north-east Mexico hours after he was kidnapped, officials say. | International football player Alan Pulido has been rescued in north-east Mexico hours after he was kidnapped, officials say. |
| Pulido, 25, appeared with a bandaged hand and told reporters he was "very well". | Pulido, 25, appeared with a bandaged hand and told reporters he was "very well". |
| Officials said the rescue operation was carried out on Sunday night, without giving more details. | Officials said the rescue operation was carried out on Sunday night, without giving more details. |
| The striker plays for the Greek team Olympiakos and has made several appearances for Mexico's national team. | The striker plays for the Greek team Olympiakos and has made several appearances for Mexico's national team. |
| Pulido was kidnapped in Ciudad Victoria, in Tamaulipas state, on Saturday night, officials said in a statement (in Spanish). | Pulido was kidnapped in Ciudad Victoria, in Tamaulipas state, on Saturday night, officials said in a statement (in Spanish). |
| Earlier reports said his abduction had taken place in the early hours of Sunday. | Earlier reports said his abduction had taken place in the early hours of Sunday. |
| He had left a party with his girlfriend when their car was surrounded by several trucks, local media reported. | He had left a party with his girlfriend when their car was surrounded by several trucks, local media reported. |
| Six masked men reportedly took the striker away "by force" while his girlfriend was left unharmed in the car park where the incident took place. | Six masked men reportedly took the striker away "by force" while his girlfriend was left unharmed in the car park where the incident took place. |
| Authorities did not give details of the rescue operation, which included federal and local officials. | Authorities did not give details of the rescue operation, which included federal and local officials. |
| Appearing outside a police office in the early hours of Monday, the player told reporters: "[I am] very well, thank God.'' | Appearing outside a police office in the early hours of Monday, the player told reporters: "[I am] very well, thank God.'' |
| Tamaulipas Governor, Egidio Torre Cantu, said: "The most important thing is that he is here, he is with us, and that's what we want to tell you." | |
| Tamaulipas is one of Mexico's most violent states, and Mexico recently deployed more security forces to tackle cartels operating in the area. | Tamaulipas is one of Mexico's most violent states, and Mexico recently deployed more security forces to tackle cartels operating in the area. |
| The country has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates, with government figures saying some 1,000 people are abducted every year. | The country has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates, with government figures saying some 1,000 people are abducted every year. |
| Others argue that the true figure could be almost 10 times as high. | Others argue that the true figure could be almost 10 times as high. |
| Pulido joined Olympiakos last July and finished the season with six goals in 15 games. | Pulido joined Olympiakos last July and finished the season with six goals in 15 games. |
| He was part of Mexico's squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but was not called up for the upcoming Copa America tournament. | He was part of Mexico's squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but was not called up for the upcoming Copa America tournament. |