German tourist climbs sacred pyramid: angry crowd wants to lynch him

Chichén Itzá (Yucatan/Mexico) - What was he thinking? A German tourist caused a huge hullabaloo in the venerable Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá . The 38-year-old wanted to climb the famous step pyramid and was almost lynched by an angry crowd.

The man ran up the almost 30-meter-high pyramid.
The man ran up the almost 30-meter-high pyramid.  © Screenshot: N+ Foro

Once again this year, numerous people gathered in the square in front of the Kukulcán pyramid in Chichén Itzá to celebrate the ancient Mayan ritual "Descent of the Feathered Serpent" on the equinox (March 21).

However, the festivities were overshadowed by an inglorious incident, reports the news agency EFE. A 38-year-old tourist from Germany suddenly overcame the barriers and climbed up the almost 30-metre-high pyramid.

He then entered the chamber at the top of the structure to hide inside.

"He got away from us, even though we were guarding the west side of the castle. He ran past us. He is obviously in good physical condition," the newspaper"El Universal" quoted a guard who preferred to remain anonymous.

The large step pyramid of Chichén Itzá, also known as "El Castillo", is dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulcán, has exactly 365 steps and was built in the 8th century. Excavations indicate that human sacrifices were once made there. Since 2007, it has been strictly forbidden to climb the pyramid.

Pictures: German tourist causes charged scenes

The pyramid of Kukulcán is a national shrine for many Mexicans.
The pyramid of Kukulcán is a national shrine for many Mexicans.  © 132rf/aluha
The man managed to get past the security guards and climbed onto the structure.
The man managed to get past the security guards and climbed onto the structure.  © X/@rigelalonzo
While the 38-year-old German (l., purple shirt) is being taken away, the police repeatedly have to push back angry people.
While the 38-year-old German (l., purple shirt) is being taken away, the police repeatedly have to push back angry people.  © Montage: Screenshot: Yucatan TV

Unpleasant scenes in Chichén Itzá: Angry mob attacks Germans

While the security forces were still trying to get the man down from the shrine, the mood of many of the 9,000 or so people who had gathered in front of it changed. The crowd chanted loudly that the disrespectful tourist should be given a "prison sentence". When he was down again, the mob even demanded a "sacrifice", EFE reports.

Very unpleasant scenes then ensued. Angry people attacked the security forces and demanded that the German be released. A scuffle broke out. According to "El Universal", the 38-year-old was injured by punches to the face. The police had every effort to avert a lynching. The German was taken away, he was lucky.

Just how quickly a lynch mob can form in Mexico was demonstrated by a shameful incident at the beginning of February, when a 21-year-old man was savagely beaten to death by an angry crowd in the town of Tekit .