Bernie Ecclestone's mother-in-law being held for £28m ransom in Brazil

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Aparecida Schunk was snatched on Friday from her home in Sao Paulo
Gang were carrying a fake box and tricked her into opening security door
Ms Schunk was then threatened with a knife and ordered into her vehicle
The 67-year-old is the mother of Bernie Ecclestone's wife Fabiana Flosi
Kidnappers reportedly demanding a ransom of £28 million ($36.7million)

By Jake Polden and Matt Roper for MailOnline

Published: 14:33 EST, 27 July 2016 | Updated: 20:21 EST, 27 July 2016

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The kidnapped mother-in-law of Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone was snatched by an armed gang posing as delivery drivers.

Aparecida Schunk, 67, the mother of Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, was kidnapped from her gated home in Sao Paulo after she was tricked into opening her security door, it has been reported.

Neighbours said the men, who were carrying a fake parcel, pushed their way in with a knife and threatened violence against Ms Schunk before ordering her into her car and fleeing.

Aparecida Schunk, 67, (left) the mother of Bernie Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi (right), was snatched on Friday night

Ecclestone, 85, met Ms Shunck's daughter Fabiana, 38, in 2009 in the run-up to the Brazilian Grande Prix in Interlagos, where she was working as marketing director for Brazil's F1

One resident added that the gang may have even had guns when they carried out the kidnap, according to The Mirror.

The kidnappers are reportedly demanding a £28million ($36.7million) ransom fee for Ms Schunk's release and are believed to be in contact with the Ecclestone family.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity a Brazilian police official confirmed the force are investigating the apparent disappearance of Ms Schunk.

The police official said that investigators are looking into other possibilities as well as kidnapping, though he would not specify.

With under two weeks to go until it hosts the Olympics, the incident is the latest hammer blow to Brazil amid security fears ranging from street crime to militant attacks.

Neighbours said Ms Schunk was kidnapped from her home in Sao Paulo after she was tricked into opening her security door

The kidnappers are reportedly demanding a ransom of £28million ($36.7million) for Ms Schunk's release and are in contact with the Ecclestone family

There are increasing fears wealthy visitors will avoid travelling to the country for the event despite a crackdown by police, including the formation of a special anti-kidnap division.

The country is also in the midst of its worst economic crisis in almost a century.

A source close to the police investigation told Brazilian magazine Veja the criminals have stipulated the ransom money be paid in pounds sterling and split into four plastic bags.

The amount is the largest ever demanded in a kidnapping in Brazil, which sees hundreds of cases a year.

Ecclestone, 85, met Fabiana, 38, in 2009 in the run-up to the Brazilian Grande Prix in Interlagos, where she was working as marketing director for Brazil's Formula One.

Billionaire: Formula One boss Ecclestone is the UK's fourth richest person with an estimated £3.2billion ($4.2billion) fortune, and one of the most powerful people in sport

Family: Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Fabiana is close to her mother. In a Mother's Day post, she wrote: 'Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, and especially mine. There are no words to thank so much love and dedication

The couple wed three years later after Ecclestone divorced his wife of 25 years, Croatian model Slavica Radic, to marry the young Brazilian.

Fabiana and her mother, who continued living in the Interlagos district of Sao Paulo, are close.

In a Facebook post on Mother's Day, she wrote: 'Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, and especially mine. There are no words to thank so much love and dedication. Thank you Mum, I love you.'

Fabiana, who is friends with Sky Sports F1 reporter Natalie Pinkham, and Ecclestone live in London.

They have not released a statement on the abduction.

The men, who were carrying a fake parcel, pushed their way in with a knife and threatened violence against Ms Schunk (pictured) before ordering her into her car and fleeing, it has been claimed