F1 chief's mother-in-law rescued in Brazil

Brazilian police on Sunday rescued the kidnapped mother-in-law of Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone from two men near Sao Paulo, officials said.

Sao Paulo's anti-kidnapping division conducted the operation to rescue 67-year-old Aparecida Schunck, who had been held since July 22.

Sao Paulo's anti-kidnap squad "freed the mother-in-law of Bernie Ecclestone," police said in a statement. "She was unharmed. Two men were arrested at the hideout near the city of Cotia. The operation continues."

Police gave no further details on the operation or the kidnapping.

Security heightened for Olympics

Schunck is the mother of Fabiana Flosi, who married Ecclestone in 2012. Her captors asked for 120 million reais (33 million euros/$36.5 million), according to reports in a leading Brazilian newsmagazine.

Ecclestone is worth an estimated $3.1 billion according to "Forbes" magazine, and is one of the most powerful men in sports.

Sao Paulo has for decades had problems with people being kidnapped and held for ransom, often for sums of just a few hundred dollars. But a dedicated task force has drastically reduced the number of kidnappings in the city over the last 15 years.

The incident comes just days before the start of the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Over 500,000 visitors are expected for the games and authorities say they will be deploying 85,000 troops and soldiers during the competition from August 5-21.

bw/cmk (AP, Reuters)