Football: Birmingham confirm kidnap of midfielder's brother (original) (raw)

Birmingham City have confirmed the brother of their Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios has been abducted. Palacios's 15-year-old sibling, Edwin Rene, was snatched from his home in La Ceiba, around 220 miles north of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa on the country's Atlantic coast.

"The club is supporting the player at this difficult stage and helping him remain in constant contact with his family in Honduras," read a Birmingham statement. "The matter is being dealt with capably by the Honduran police, therefore Wilson is staying in the UK in the hope that his brother will be returned to his family soon. Wilson has the club's permission to return back to Honduras at any time, if he so wishes."

The 23-year-old international arrived at St Andrew's on loan in August but there is a deal in place to make his switch from Honduran club Olimpia permanent. Palacios was signed on the recommendation of the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger after a trial with the Gunners and he has so far made six appearances for Steve Bruce's team.

According to Public Safety Department spokesman Hector Ivan Mejia, the kidnappers forced a door of the family's home open, leaving the boy's parents bound and locked up in a room. He did not know if the kidnappers had demanded a ransom. "The family has asked us not to get involved, but the police are going to investigate the kidnapping," said Mejia.

Two other siblings, Milton and Jerry Palacios, play for Marathon and Olimpia, respectively, in the Honduran first division. Milton left practice in the nearby city of San Pedro Sula to return home to negotiate with the kidnappers, said authorities. There have been 33 kidnappings this year in Honduras.