# Russian tourists hit by Paris riots return home

04/11/2005 17:02

PARIS, November 4 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Nizamutdinov) - Twenty-eight Russian tourists whose bus was stolen during riots in Paris left home Friday, and are expected in Moscow on Sunday evening.

On Wednesday night, a group of young ethnic Arabs stole the bus that belonged to the Russian tourists from Yaroslavl, north of Moscow, from a car park in Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris, near the hotel where the tourists were staying.

The Russians reported the incident to police who soon found the bus, which was beyond repair.

The tourists were provided with another bus that is taking them to Moscow.

Police detained two thieves, and are now investigating the incident. The drivers of the destroyed bus had to stay for the investigation.

Shortly after the bus was stolen, one of the tourists was attacked and stripped of her bag with money and documents. Other members of the tourist group came under similar assaults several times.

"Of course, these incidents spoiled our mood completely," one of the tourists said. "Thankfully, we were transferred to a hotel in Montmartre, because we were afraid to go outside in Saint-Denis in the evenings."

After the Russian tourists left Paris, hooligans attacked a Chinese restaurant near a hotel with Russian tourists in the center of Paris. No victims were reported.