FBI foils kidnap of star Crowe

By NAOMI LARKIN AND AGENCIES

Life came dangerously close to imitating art for New Zealand born superstar Russell Crowe after the FBI and British police thwarted an attempt to kidnap the Proof of Life hero.

But the FBI said yesterday the threat to the 36-year-old Australian-based actor might not be over.

Los Angeles special agent Matthew McLaughlin said the FBI had warned Crowe to maintain a high level of security, as the abduction threat was "credible."

In Proof of Life, due to be released in New Zealand today, Crowe plays a professional hostage negotiator for a company that specialises in kidnap and rescue operations. His mission is to recover an engineer kidnapped by guerrillas.

His co-star in the film is his former lover American Meg Ryan.

Britain's Sunday People newspaper reported that "mystery gangsters" planned to kidnap Crowe at the premiere of Proof of Life in London's West End.

But Scotland Yard detectives were tipped off by the FBI and a "massive security operation involving crack cops and an army of minders" blocked the conspiracy.

Crowe was questioned by British police.

A police source reportedly told the newspaper that Crowe took the threat seriously: "It's hard to imagine the man you see playing the mighty Maximus in Gladiator being frightened - but he was genuinely scared."

Special agent McLaughlin yesterday confirmed that the FBI had passed on details of the kidnap plot to Scotland Yard.

"We're acknowledging the FBI is investigating an apparent kidnap threat that was levied some time ago regarding Russell Crowe.

"We've been in touch with him shortly after receiving the threat and are co-ordinating very closely with his personnel and other law enforcement agencies."

Special agent McLaughlin refused to give details about the threat.

"Specifics of that we are avoiding talking about right now - we have personnel and resources in place that could be compromised, so we want to ... take care of everybody."

Crowe is understood to have attended the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles in January under the protection of FBI agents in tuxedos.

In London, Crowe was guarded by extra security men as he stayed in the penthouse suite at the Park Lane Dorchester Hotel.

"He had five guards, all built like brick walls. They were all trained in counter-surveillance and hatched an elaborate ploy to fake his exit," the Sunday People quoted an anonymous hotel source as saying.

Crowe will make his next public appearance at the Academy Awards on March 25, where he is nominated for a best actor Oscar for Gladiator. He will also present an Oscar.

Crowe took his only niece, 12-year-old Chelsea Crowe of Taupo, to last year's Oscar awards. Her mother, Honor Lymburn, last night declined to comment on the threat.

Last year India's biggest movie star, Rajkumar, was kidnapped for three months by a notorious outlaw called Veerappan. He was released after the payment of a $US2.17 million ($5.1 million) ransom.