Gunmen left a threatening message on Thursday for Lionel Messi and opened hearth at a grocery store owned by means of his in-laws in his place of birth of Rosario, police mentioned.
Nobody used to be injured within the early morning assault, and it used to be unclear why assailants would goal the Argentina megastar or the grocery store, which is owned by means of the circle of relatives of his spouse, Antonella Roccuzzo.
Police mentioned two males on a bike fired a minimum of a dozen photographs into the grocery store within the early hours, and left a message on a work of cardboard that learn, “Messi, we’re waiting for you.” [Rosario mayor Pablo] Javkin may be a drug trafficker, so he would possibly not handle you.”
Messi, who captained Argentina to victory at last year’s World Cup, has not commented on the incident. Messi plays for Paris Saint-Germain and spends much of his time overseas, though he often visits Rosario where he has a home in the suburb of Funes.
In Rosario, prosecutor Federico Rébola said authorities were reviewing security camera footage and that the investigation was “initial.” It was the first time Messi’s in-laws had received this kind of threat, he added.
Celia Arena, justice minister for Santa Fe province, where Rosario is located, said the attack amounted to “terrorism” by a “mafia” group meant to intimidate the broader population.
Meanwhile, Javkin attacked federal authorities over what he called their failure to curb a surge in drug-related violence in Rosario, which is located about 190 miles northwest of Buenos Aires.
Javkin, a center-left politician in opposition to the ruling Peronist coalition, appeared to throw suspicion of complicity for the attacks on criminal gangs and federal security officials.
“I doubt everybody, even those that are intended to give protection to us,” Javkin said in an interview with a local radio station.
He said the supermarket was in a section of Rosario that has seen frequent crimes, and that he has raised the issue in recent meetings with federal and provincial law enforcement officials, but no action has been taken.
“Where are the ones who need to take care of us?” Javkin said. “It’s transparent that those that have the guns and feature the opportunity of investigating the criminals don’t seem to be doing it, and it is really easy for any gang to hold out one thing like this.”