Letter threats to kidnap Austrian athletes in Sochi

VIENNA -- An anonymous kidnap threat letter against two Austrian athletes who are scheduled to attend the Sochi Games has been received by Austrian Olympic Committee (AOC), the committee's general secretary, Peter Mennel, said Tuesday.

The anonymous letter was delivered into the mailbox of AOC's office in Vienna on Monday, containing a kidnap threat against Austrian Alpine skier Marlies Schild and Skeleton player Janine Flock.

AOC said it had informed the Federal Criminal Agency and the Russian authority.

Mennel said Austrian athletes will be protected by a police special force when they leave the Olympic Village.

The kidnap threat against Austrian players came after terrorist threats against athletes from European Olympic committees in Sochi, but the expert said that such threats were common before big events.