Armed robbers hit 2010 stadium

2009-06-17 09:49

Port Elizabeth - One of the new stadiums built for the football World Cup next year was attacked by armed robbers after an international rugby game, it was reported on Wednesday.

The robbery at the sports bar of the new Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth took place on Tuesday afternoon, after a game between the British and Irish Lions and the Southern Kings.

The SABC quoted police as saying that the robbers pounced on the bar on the stadium's fifth level after a large police contingent had left the stadium. A small amount of money was taken but no-one was injured.

Police arrested five suspects.

The match was the first official sports event in the 48 000-capacity stadium, the first of five new World Cup stadiums to be completed earlier this month.

The stadium and city had originally been scheduled to host games in the football Confederations Cup currently taking place in the country, but was axed by world football body FIFA from the list last year for fear it would not be ready in time.

- SAPA