SA teens escape drug shootout

2010-03-23 08:14

Cape Town - South Africa's under-18 ice hockey team are reportedly shocked after being caught up in a shootout between police and gunmen belonging to a drug cartel while on tour in Mexico on Friday.

The Cape Times reported on Tuesday that the team had to dive for cover when their team bus landed in the middle of a fierce gun battle while leaving a practice session in Monterrey, Mexico's second-largest city.

The driver encountered a barricade of two abandoned buses blocking the road and moments later, military trucks screamed past. They then heard gunshots and everybody dived for cover. The driver managed to get them away from the scene.

The team – which includes 10 players from the Western Cape – were in Mexico to take part in the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 World Championship Division III at the Monterrey Ice Complex.

The team's assistant manager, Steve Johnson, told the Cape Times they were "in the middle of what appeared to be a shootout betwee3n police and other people. Police were chasing them. It happened a few cars ahead of us. Everybody took cover and we were all a bit shocked".

Despite the incident, the South African team won a bronze in the competition, which ended on Sunday.

According to AP, gang members involved in notorious drug cartels blocked more than 30 roads in the city over a 24-hour period.

- News24