At least 11 killed, businesses burned near Mexico's border with U.S. in violence blamed partly on El Chapo's Sinaloa cartel - CBS News
The violence has apparently spread to Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Baja California. The US Consulate has ordered US government employees in Tijuana to shelter in place due to the violence: U.S. Gov. Employees in Tijuana Told to Shelter in Place as Violence Breaks Out Across Baja California – NBC 7 San Diego (nbcsandiego.com)
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico — A wave of violence in a Mexican city on the border with the United States left 11 people dead, including a radio presenter, and businesses torched, authorities said Friday.
In the first incident in Ciudad Juarez, two prison inmates were shot dead and 20 injured in a riot involving two rival gangs, Deputy Security Minister Ricardo Mejia told reporters.
Local media said both groups were linked to the Sinaloa cartel, whose former leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
The violence has apparently spread to Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Baja California. The US Consulate has ordered US government employees in Tijuana to shelter in place due to the violence: U.S. Gov. Employees in Tijuana Told to Shelter in Place as Violence Breaks Out Across Baja California – NBC 7 San Diego (nbcsandiego.com)
U.S. government employees in Tijuana and parts of Baja California have been told to shelter in place as law enforcement in Mexico investigates multiple reports of vehicle fires, roadblocks and police activity, the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana said Friday night.
At least 19 vehicles were set on fire in five cities in northern Mexico: Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate, Rosarito and Tijuana. The attacks on the vehicles were apparently coordinated and began around 6:45 p.m. local time and concluded at 7:15 p.m., including ones that occurred outside the Xolos stadium.
People were being asked to avoid the areas or find a safe place if they can't get out, and to monitor news outlets for updates.
The mayor of Tijuana, Montserrat Caballero Ramírez, said at least 10 vehicles were set on fire. The governor of Baja California, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, shared a message on her Twitter account condemning violence, and said police had detained multiple people.
Baja California joins the wave of violence that began this week in the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato in response to a military operation against leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and that extended Thursday night to the border city of Ciudad Juárez, which experienced hours of terror in which at least 11 people died.
Caballero ruled out a curfew in the city and said that citizens can continue with their activities on a daily and peaceful basis. Ramirez said he has 2,000 police officers and 3,000 National Guard troops ready if necessary.