Two French tourists were violently attacked and robbed while their cruise ship was docked in Antigua last week.
According to the Antigua Observer, 70-year-old Jacques Colbert and 62-year-old Christiane Marcelle Drouth had arrived on an MSC Cruises vessel and were sightseeing in Hatton when the alleged crime occurred around 11 a.m. on February 1.
MORE Cruise Line & Cruise Ship
The two accused attackers—who were identified as 20-year-old Joel Richards and 19-year-old Anderson Garcia—allegedly stabbed Colbert in the abdomen and ran off with Drouth’s black leather handbag, which contained an umbrella, Drouth’s cruise ship receipt, a notebook and an address book.
A resident called 911 and Colbert was transported to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, authorities combed the area and eventually recovered Drouth’s bag with all of her items still inside.
Both Richards and Garcia have been charged with aggravated robbery.
Last week’s incident came just days after a British tourist visiting on a cruise ship was attacked and robbed by a man wielding a piece of wood while sightseeing at Antigua’s St. John’s Cathedral.
Both attacks come just over one month after Royal Caribbean International issued a letter to Anthem of the Seas passengers warning of potential theft and other crime in certain areas of Nassau, Bahamas. However, the cruise line quickly rescinded the warning after working with the destination’s tourism minister.
