Australian soccer fans robbed at gunpoint in South African hotel

 

• Nigerian gunmen tied up tourists
• One woman was sexually assaulted
• AFP officer tried to keep victims calm
• 
  

ARMED gunmen tied up and robbed Australian soccer fans at their hotel in South Africa, with one victim also sexually assaulted.

The robbery took place as the fans were returning to to their hotel in Nelspruit after the match between the Socceroos and Serbia.

Another Australian guest at the hotel, Steve Gaynor, said four Nigerian men with rifles and handguns followed nine tourists, five of whom  were Australians, back to the hotel and attacked them in their rooms.

"I had watched the match from the hotel that night and about 12.30am three cars arrived back at the hotel and people started filing in," said Mr Gaynor, who had $10,000 worth of equipment stolen from his room.
"I was in the bar and some people came in there while others went back to their rooms.
"We were oblivious to what was going on. These poor kids were tied up, held at gunpoint and robbed. My room was robbed, but luckily I wasn't in there when they broke through the window."
Mr Gaynor said one Australian had been sexually assaulted.
One of the victims was an off-duty Australian Federal Police officer and had tried to keep the others calm during the robbery.
"They took cash, jewellery and watches off the people they had tied up and stole phones and laptops," Mr Gaynor said.
"I think they knew Aussies were in that hotel, they were targeting us.
"It was robbery with violence. One guy was on the floor and the man had his boot on his head and told him not to move or he is dead - it was serious."

Steve Gaynor, who was a guest at the targeted hotel, said the robbers were armed with rifles and handguns.

Picture: Channel Nine