Drug traffickers terrorize Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez: Shootings, Molotov cocktails and homicide | Worldwide

The Mexican metropolis of Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua descended into chaos on Thursday as drug traffickers carried out sweeping assaults on comfort shops, fuel stations and buses. State authorities haven’t but recognized a hyperlink between the assaults, however the surge of violence has been linked to a jail riot that left three inmates useless.

A number of hours after the riot, teams of armed males had been filmed throwing Molotov cocktails and firing at well-known native meals chains, reminiscent of Rapiditos Bip-Bip, OXXO, CircleK and Del Río, which is owned by Alejandra de la Vega, one of many richest businesswomen in Chihuahua.

Round 5pm, two ladies had been killed in an OXXO comfort retailer within the southeast of the town after assailants threw Molotov cocktails on the constructing, which was immediately engulfed in flames. Based on the native newspaper Diario de Juárez, which cites municipal authorities, the victims had been an OXXO worker and one other younger girl who had come to ask for work.

The attackers additionally threw Molotov cocktails at one other OXXO, on the cross-section of Ejercito Nacional and Manuel Gómez Morín, however the staff managed to flee safely. In a Circle Okay retailer, a gaggle of armed males fired at 4 folks, injuring a 15-year-old teenager who was taken to a hospital. Later, staff of a Del Río comfort retailer had been overwhelmed and shot at, with one man injured within the assault, in response to native press. The armed gang additionally threw Molotov cocktails and fired at a fuel station situated on the intersection of San Antonio and Gómez Morín avenue. Authorities mentioned no makes an attempt had been made to rob the attacked premises.

In a pizza retailer, belonging to the Little Caesar chain, 4 males had been shot useless. Authorities reported that the assailants additionally set fireplace to a bus transporting staff to a maquiladora, a sort of manufacturing facility in Mexico run by a international firm. The ladies had been in a position to flee the automobile earlier than it was consumed by flames.

“I deeply remorse the lack of human lives on this heinous occasion in opposition to Ciudad Juarez,” mentioned Chihuahua Governor Maru Campos in a Twitter message. “I condemn the violent occasions that occurred this afternoon. I reiterate my dedication to work with all my power and capabilities to ensure the well-being of the folks of Juarez,” she added. This was the primary official assertion after six hours of assaults.

EL PAÍS contacted the Chihuahua prosecutor’s workplace to realize extra details about the violence, however acquired no reply. In response to the assaults, the College of Ciudad Juárez canceled lessons on Thursday and can maintain all educational actions scheduled for Friday and Saturday on-line.

Thursday’s assaults have turn out to be a part of each day life within the border metropolis of Ciudad Juárez, which has been besieged by violence for many years. Based on Diario de Juárez, earlier than the afternoon chaos, a decapitated head was discovered within the metropolis. “It’s the second decapitated head present in lower than 24 hours,” the newspaper reported. And in one other a part of the town, within the Paraje de Oriente neighborhood, a person was riddled with bullets whereas fleeing from his attackers. “That is the forty ninth intentional murder of the month of August,” wrote the newspaper. In Ciudad Juárez, a metropolis of one million and a half inhabitants, virtually 5 folks a day have been killed in August alone.

The violence in Ciudad Juárez comes just some days after drug traffickers terrorized the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato. The armed teams burned vehicles, vehicles and companies, and likewise blocked a number of highways after the Mexican authorities tried to arrest two alleged leaders of the Jalisco New Technology Cartel (CJNG), one of the crucial highly effective drug organizations in Mexico.