Federer's would-be 'killer' says he's sorry
Source: AFP |
October 11, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A BLOGGER in China who made a death threat against Roger Federer said he had apologized but was still at large after vowing to "assassinate" the world No. 1, according to an online posting.
An Internet user with the name "Blue Cat Polytheistic Religion Founder 07" threatened the tennis player before he arrived to play at the Shanghai Masters, which began last Sunday, prompting organizers to step up security.
"I have not been arrested," said a posting on baidu.com, where the original threat also appeared.
"I took the initiative to contact the relevant people to apologize," said the message posted around midday on Tuesday.
The original threat read: "On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination."
The user also posted a doctored image showing a decapitated Federer on his knees on a tennis court, with an ax-wielding executioner standing next to him.
Shanghai Masters organizers said last week that they were taking the bizarre threat "seriously" while Federer himself labeled it a "distraction" after arriving in the city.
"Obviously maybe it's a little bit of a distraction, there's no doubt about it," Federer said last Sunday. "It was something just very small on a website, nothing clear and concrete, people just debating."
Federer's wife and twin daughters have not traveled to China but he said that decision had nothing to do with the threat.
Federer has been surrounded by a dozen security guards who were also with him when he was practicing on court on Tuesday.
An Internet user with the name "Blue Cat Polytheistic Religion Founder 07" threatened the tennis player before he arrived to play at the Shanghai Masters, which began last Sunday, prompting organizers to step up security.
"I have not been arrested," said a posting on baidu.com, where the original threat also appeared.
"I took the initiative to contact the relevant people to apologize," said the message posted around midday on Tuesday.
The original threat read: "On October 6, I plan to assassinate Federer for the purpose of tennis extermination."
The user also posted a doctored image showing a decapitated Federer on his knees on a tennis court, with an ax-wielding executioner standing next to him.
Shanghai Masters organizers said last week that they were taking the bizarre threat "seriously" while Federer himself labeled it a "distraction" after arriving in the city.
"Obviously maybe it's a little bit of a distraction, there's no doubt about it," Federer said last Sunday. "It was something just very small on a website, nothing clear and concrete, people just debating."
Federer's wife and twin daughters have not traveled to China but he said that decision had nothing to do with the threat.
Federer has been surrounded by a dozen security guards who were also with him when he was practicing on court on Tuesday.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
