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Printable Page
04/21 23:01 CDT Mexico to beef up security at tourist sites after shooting at
pyramids in lead up to World Cup
Mexico to beef up security at tourist sites after shooting at pyramids in lead
up to World Cup
By MEGAN JANETSKY
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) --- Mexico's government said it was beefing up security at
tourist sites after a man opened fire on tourists at pyramids outside of Mexico
City less than two months before the FIFA World Cup.
The Monday shooting, carried out by a lone gunman on top of one of the
Teotihuacan pyramids --- a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of Mexico's most
frequented tourist attractions --- killed one Canadian tourist and injured a
dozen more.
It also set off a flurry of questions the next morning by reporters to Mexican
President Claudia Sheinbaum about what security protocols her government was
taking ahead of the sports competition, which Mexico will jointly host with the
United States and Canada over the summer.
About an hour from Mexico City, Teotihuacan was slated to be a key site for
visitors during the festivities. Just days before the shooting, local lawmakers
even pushed forward an initiative to revive a nighttime interactive light show
projected on the pyramids for World Cup visitors, which was previous suspended
at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The unexpected act of violence comes as Sheinbaum's government has gone to
great lengths to project an image of safety ahead of the soccer competition,
following a surge of cartel violence February in the World Cup host city of
Guadalajara.
"Events like this only further magnify the negative images that Mexico has on
security issues, undermining the narrative that President Sheinbaum is trying
to build that Mexico is a safe country," said Mexican security analyst David
Saucedo.
?An isolated incident' On Tuesday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the archaeological site lacked security filters to prevent the attack in part, she said, because the shooting "was an isolated incident" that hasn't occurred before in such a public space. While Mexico suffers from cartel violence, especially in strategic and rural areas, mass shootings in public spaces are rare in Mexico compared to the U.S., where it is much easier to legally obtain a gun. She noted that the shooter appeared to be motivated by "outside influences," particularly the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado. "Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. But clearly, we all know --- Mexicans know --- that this is something that had not previously taken place," Sheinbaum said Tuesday morning. Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garca Harfuch, the face of the government's crackdown on cartels, said on Tuesday that security forces had been ordered to "immediately strengthen security" at archaeological sites and major tourist destinations across the country. He said the government will increase the presence of Mexican National Guard, boost security checks at key sites and fortify surveillance systems to "identify and prevent any threats" against citizens and visitors.
Security concerns ahead of World Cup The announcement was an effort by Mexican authorities to assuage ongoing concerns about violence in Mexico ahead of the tournament. Sheinbaum's government has touted security successes under her leadership. Homicides have dipped sharply since she taken office to the lowest levels in a decade, government figures show. The government has also taken out a number of top capos and highlighted a dip in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border. But they have hit hurdles in recent months, namely a burst a violence in Guadalajara in February, triggered by the killing of Mexico's most powerful cartel boss. The bloodshed was met with a wave of concern by people in and outside of Mexico. Sheinbaum vowed there would be "no risk" for fans coming to the tournament and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had "full confidence" in Mexico as a host country. Sheinbaum later met with FIFA representatives to assess security for the World Cup matches to be played in Mexico. Mexico's government doubled down on security measures, which include deploying 100,000 security forces across the country, particularly concentrated in the country's three host cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Officials said it would deploy more than 2,000 military vehicles, as well as dozens of air crafts and drones, and establish security perimeters around areas like stadiums and airports in key cities. "As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup," Sheinbaum said in early March. Despite the rare nature of the Monday shooting at the pyramids, the extreme act of violence reignited scrutiny by some about the government's capacity to prevent violence during the soccer tournament, and once again boosted pressures on the government. FIFA was approached for comment about the pyramid shooting, but the soccer body typically does not address security issues and incidents that happen away from tournament venues. Saucedo, the security analyst, said that pressures to concentrate security in host cities and tourist areas like Teotihuacan may come at the expense of other more crime-torn areas in greater need of police and military. "Events like the one that took place yesterday in Teotihuacan clearly show that public safety agencies are overwhelmed," he said. ------ Associated Press reporter Graham Dunbar contributed to this report from Geneva.
?An isolated incident' On Tuesday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the archaeological site lacked security filters to prevent the attack in part, she said, because the shooting "was an isolated incident" that hasn't occurred before in such a public space. While Mexico suffers from cartel violence, especially in strategic and rural areas, mass shootings in public spaces are rare in Mexico compared to the U.S., where it is much easier to legally obtain a gun. She noted that the shooter appeared to be motivated by "outside influences," particularly the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado. "Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. But clearly, we all know --- Mexicans know --- that this is something that had not previously taken place," Sheinbaum said Tuesday morning. Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garca Harfuch, the face of the government's crackdown on cartels, said on Tuesday that security forces had been ordered to "immediately strengthen security" at archaeological sites and major tourist destinations across the country. He said the government will increase the presence of Mexican National Guard, boost security checks at key sites and fortify surveillance systems to "identify and prevent any threats" against citizens and visitors.
Security concerns ahead of World Cup The announcement was an effort by Mexican authorities to assuage ongoing concerns about violence in Mexico ahead of the tournament. Sheinbaum's government has touted security successes under her leadership. Homicides have dipped sharply since she taken office to the lowest levels in a decade, government figures show. The government has also taken out a number of top capos and highlighted a dip in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border. But they have hit hurdles in recent months, namely a burst a violence in Guadalajara in February, triggered by the killing of Mexico's most powerful cartel boss. The bloodshed was met with a wave of concern by people in and outside of Mexico. Sheinbaum vowed there would be "no risk" for fans coming to the tournament and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had "full confidence" in Mexico as a host country. Sheinbaum later met with FIFA representatives to assess security for the World Cup matches to be played in Mexico. Mexico's government doubled down on security measures, which include deploying 100,000 security forces across the country, particularly concentrated in the country's three host cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Officials said it would deploy more than 2,000 military vehicles, as well as dozens of air crafts and drones, and establish security perimeters around areas like stadiums and airports in key cities. "As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup," Sheinbaum said in early March. Despite the rare nature of the Monday shooting at the pyramids, the extreme act of violence reignited scrutiny by some about the government's capacity to prevent violence during the soccer tournament, and once again boosted pressures on the government. FIFA was approached for comment about the pyramid shooting, but the soccer body typically does not address security issues and incidents that happen away from tournament venues. Saucedo, the security analyst, said that pressures to concentrate security in host cities and tourist areas like Teotihuacan may come at the expense of other more crime-torn areas in greater need of police and military. "Events like the one that took place yesterday in Teotihuacan clearly show that public safety agencies are overwhelmed," he said. ------ Associated Press reporter Graham Dunbar contributed to this report from Geneva.
