Colombian Rebel Group Plotted to Kidnap Rudy Giuliani, Report Says

Published January 13, 2015

A terrorism task force is investigating a report that a Colombian rebel group is plotting to kidnap former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in Mexico City, the Daily News reported Saturday.

Giuliani said he would continue his trip as an anti-crime consultant as planned.

"It hasn't in any way interfered in what we've done so far and it will not interfere with anything we will do," he said.

The threat was described as a discussion about "what they would get" in terms of ransom for the former mayor, whose consulting firm has been hired to advise Mexico City police, the News quoted an unidentified source as saying.

A retired New York City police detective heard of the plans by Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, while visiting Mexico on assignment for Giuliani, the newspaper said, quoting a law enforcement source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Police Sgt. Kevin Hayes said the department would not comment on the report.

Authorities told the News that the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force is taking the threat seriously.

Giuliani and his firm, Giuliani Partners, were hired in October to help lower Mexico City's infamously high violent crime rate. Giuliani said he is still working out details of the trip.

"Any discussion on when I go or how I'll go will be announced as we get closer to doing it," he said at an impromptu book signing in midtown Manhattan.

Since he left office last year, Giuliani has been protected by a New York City police security detail.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Wednesday that the taxpayer-funded protection is justified.

"We think that there are security concerns that have arisen as a result of his public employment sufficient to warrant a protective detail," Kelly said.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/story/colombian-rebel-group-plotted-to-kidnap-rudy-giuliani-report-says