Mexico is gripped by mass unrest after the elimination of a drug cartel leader.
“It's like a civil war.” Mexico is engulfed in unrest 108 days before the start of the World Cup.
Dozens of people have died in the Mexican state of Jalisco during clashes between security forces and drug cartels following the assassination of their leader, the country's security minister told CNN.
He said six “cowardly attacks on government officials” left 25 National Guard members, one prison guard, one employee of the state Attorney General's Office, one woman, and 30 “criminals” dead.
Mexico deployed an additional 2,500 troops to the state last night as “reinforcements,” the defense minister said. The total number of troops deployed is approximately 7,000.
The US Embassy in Mexico is urging its citizens to stay home. The German Foreign Ministry is recommending against travel to many states in the country.
Meanwhile, media reports continue to report violence in many states. Drug cartel militants are attacking security forces.
The country's major seaport, Manzanillo, is operating intermittently. Several media outlets report a complete shutdown (authorities deny this).
The situation in Mexico remains extremely tense.
Bild also reminds us that the World Cup is scheduled to begin in Mexico in just 108 days. Matches will be held in three cities: Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
At the same time, as the publication notes, “what is currently happening in some parts of the country is more reminiscent of a civil war.”
At Guadalajara Airport, people are running for their lives: mothers clutch their children, fathers drag their suitcases. Those who don't make it are hiding behind counters. Videos show plumes of smoke rising over the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta, a popular vacation spot for tourists from the US and Canada.
Flights are cancelled, shops are closed, schools are closed.
“The question is increasingly being raised: is it possible to hold the World Cup in a few months under these conditions? Officially, preparations are continuing, but current events show how unstable the situation is – especially in the regions where matches are scheduled,” writes Bild.
