2016 Olympics: 4 US athletes robbed at gunpoint in Rio

US swimmer and six-time gold medalist Ryan Lochte and US swimming teammates Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen were held at gunpoint in Rio de Janerio on early Sunday morning, as confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee and reported by The New York Times.

The athletes are said to have been coming back from an event held at House France in the high-end Lagoa neighborhood of central Rio de Janeiro.

“Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as police officers who demanded the athletes’ money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities” the USOC report said.

The information regarding the attack was initially denied by the IOC and spokesman Mark Adams, who called the claims “absolutely not true”, before backtracking and and saying this was the message initially passed along by the US Olympic Committee.

The news first came out when Ryan’s mother Ileana Lochte spoke to US media, saying that Ryan had texted her following the attack. Ms. Lochte and Ryan himself later confirmed to NBC News that the athletes’ wallets were taken, but not their mobile phones or credentials and that they were shaken up but safe after the incident.

The incident is the latest in a string of attacks on Rio 2016 officials, staff, journalists and tourists despite the Brazilian government’s attempt of upping security in the city of Rio to an unprecedented number of 85,000 policemen and national army officials.