Top IOC official arrested
President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Patrick Hickey of Ireland speaking during an interview. File Photo: AFP
Brazilian police on Wednesday arrested top International Olympic Committee member Patrick Hickey over illegal sales of Rio Olympics tickets.
Police said in a statement that Hickey, the 71-year-old head of the European Olympic Committees as well as the Irish national committee, was detained at a luxury Rio hotel.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. According to Brazilian media, Hickey tried to escape during the operation.
The reports said he fell ill during his arrest and was taken to hospital.
City police acted to "carry out an arrest warrant and search warrant against Patrick Joseph Hickey, from Ireland, a member of the International Olympic Committee," police said in a statement.
"He was arrested," a spokesman confirmed.
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