Dutch tourist attacked at Xunantunich
While the alleged victim of the attempted rape was able to escape unharmed, such was not the case for a pair of tourists who were assaulted near the ancient Maya site of Xunantunich on Sunday morning. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods caught up with the pair this morning at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Alwin Klanderman and Edith ter Maat were enjoying their last day of backpacking in Belize when the Dutch cousins were viciously attacked on their way back from a visit to the Xunantunich Maya ruin.
Edith ter Maat, Victim of Hold-up
“We were attacked by three boys from the forest. Two with machetes, you call it, and one with a gun.”
Jacqueline Woods
“This must have been pretty scary?”
Edith ter Maat
“Yes, at first it was but afterwards… at the moment we were thinking what should we do to rescue ourselves.”
Maat said the only thing the men said in English was that they wanted to take them into the forest. But she said they had no intention of going anywhere with the assailants. Although they were outnumbered and had no weapons on them, Maat and Klanderman decided to fight back.
Alwin Klanderman, Victim of Hold-up
“They still standing before us and they said nothing. We ask what they want from us, money or something, our stuff or so and one speak English a little bit and they said they want to go to the forest, off the road, in the bush or something. And we didn’t want it and the man attacked me with a gun on my head and then I get him and push him on the ground. After that, a second attack from behind me, from the back with a machete to my head and a little bit on my hands it is still open.”
Edith ter Maat
“I escaped from the boy who was attacking me and swung on the jacket from the guy who was attacking Alwin. Alwin was on the ground and stood up and we ran away. It all happened in less than five minutes I guess.”
Strangely, the attackers did not take anything from the tourists and Maat and Klanderman managed to make it safely back to the ferry. Both were taken to the San Ignacio Hospital then transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Klanderman received six stitches to the head and both hands were bandaged. He was kept overnight for observation and later released.
Although several serious attacks have taken place in the same area, Klanderman says no one at their hotel warned about the potential danger.
Alwin Klanderman
“No, nothing. Yes, and we have a guide book with us and it says you can walk one mile, there is no problem.”
Maat and Klanderman say they will be careful as they intend to continue their journey. Their next stop is Guatemala. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Police have recovered the machetes and twenty-two-calibre rifle believed to have been used in the attack and three men from Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala, have been detained by Belize police. Most of the crimes against tourists near Xunantunich are believed to be committed by gangs from across the border.
