Another Chichén Itzá climber attacked and arrested
A tourist from Poland was arrested, and assaulted by other tourists, after being the latest to attempt to ascend the ancient pyramid at Chichén Itzá illegally.
The visitor, identified as Pawel Tomasz, was detained by authorities on Saturday afternoon when he descended the famous temple of Kukulkán, perhaps Mexico’s most iconic site.
Other tourists were visibly angry. One hit him on the head with a stick, which another was seen striking him in the stomach.
The confrontation follows November’s incident when a Mexican tourist was berated by others for climbing the pyramid and even doing a little celebratory dance. She was arrested and fined nearly 5,000 pesos, according to local media.
Tomasz also paid a 5,000-peso fine and was reportedly held in police custody for 12 hours.
More recently, officials allegedly allowed their own visitors to ascend the steps while a blockade of protestors kept the general public away.
The incident was shared widely on social networks.
The city of Chichén Itzá, where the monument is located, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
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