4 things to know about the kidnapping of US citizens in Matamoros, Mexico
Four US citizens have been abducted after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in the northern Mexican city of Matamoros, the FBI said. Here’s what you need to know about this case.
How did the attack happen?
The four Americans arrived in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, on Friday and were traveling in a white minivan registered in North Carolina. The FBI said the van came under fire shortly after entering Mexico.
US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and an “innocent” Mexican citizen died in the attack. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Monday that Americans crossed the border to buy medicine and were caught in the crossfire between two armed groups.
What’s new about violence in Matamoros?
Matamoros is home to warring factions of the Gulf drug cartel, and Friday’s shooting was so horrific that the US consulate issued a danger alert and local authorities warned people to take cover. It wasn’t immediately clear how the kidnappings could be linked to Friday’s violence.
Is it safe to travel to this region?
The US State Department recently released several travel advisories for Mexico to help visitors plan their visit. In the case of Tamaulipas, where Matamoros is located, the State Department recommends against traveling to the state due to crime and kidnapping.
“Organized criminal activity, including shootings, murders, armed robberies, car thefts, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, extortion and sexual assault, is prevalent along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria,” the Department of Status said in a statement. “Criminal groups attack public and private passenger buses and private vehicles passing through Tamaulipas, often kidnapping passengers and demanding ransoms.”
How common are kidnappings of Americans in Mexico?
Brendon Tucker, a humanitarian worker at Global Response Medicine, said kidnappings of U.S. citizens in Mexico are unusual. The non-profit organization, which has medical teams from the US and Mexico, has been operating in Matamoros and Reinos for several years. The group recently left Matamoros due to lack of funds.
“I would be surprised if the abductees were from a church or an aid group,” Tucker said. It is more likely that the group included a US citizen of Mexican origin traveling to visit family in the region. “Right now in Matamoros, I would have more understanding… The overall security situation is deteriorating.”
“The cartels avoided targeting the Americans, and in this case, either you have one or two things: a case of mistaken identity, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, or one in four people could be connected to someone. by a rival cartel and was targeted,” said Arturo Fontes, a former FBI investigator and president of Fontes International Solutions, a security consulting firm.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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