Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP / Getty Images
By: EFE Updated 15 Sea 2022, 19: 41 pm EDT
MEXICO CITY – The United States embassy in Mexico said Monday that is “closely monitoring” the violent events at dawn in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, that resulted in the arrest of a capo.
In a statement, the United States Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said that “the safety of United States citizens and our employees is the highest priority for the Department of State” and therefore it was decided to close the United States Consulate in Nuevo Laredo .
In Nuevo Laredo, early Monday morning, there were strong gun battles between a cartel and the Army Mexican, which led to the closure of international bridges with the United States for several hours after the arrest of a capo.
Salazar sign He stated that “the current situation in Nuevo Laredo underscores the importance of working with the Government of Mexico under the Bicentennial Framework for security, public health and safe communities to disrupt criminal organizations.”
The US ambassador also noted that they are “taking measures to protect the safety of our employees. Our consulate is closed to the public until further notice. All appointments scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) will be rescheduled”.
According to official sources, throughout Sunday night and early Monday there were some 15 clashes between members of the Tropa del Infierno, the armed wing of the Cartel del Northeast (CDN), against Army agents, in addition to blocking avenues with dozens of vehicles set on fire after the arrest of a leader of this powerful cartel.
“Shots were reported against military installations and the offices of the United States Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, in addition to confrontations and persecutions in various parts of the city,” said the Secretary of Public Security of Tamaulipas.
Meanwhile, in a bulletin, the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) confirmed that in the last few hours Juan Gerardo Treviño, alias the Egg, was arrested, considered leader of the Northeast Cartel, during an operation in the region and was later deported to the United States.
Later, through a statement, the Mexican Foreign Ministry said that “it has been in direct communication and constant with the diplomatic representatives of the United States in our country”.
The foregoing, “by virtue of the implications and possible effects on the personnel who work there.”
In this sense, it indicated that the Mexican government took “immediate measures” in order to provide security to said consular representation.
In addition, he said that, consequently, “the United States Consulate has been temporarily closed to the public, as well as specific operations to protect the property and the diplomatic and consular personnel who work there”.
In addition, the SRE indicated that the governments of Mexico and the United States “are we will further reject security cooperation in order to end impunity and bring to justice those involved in attacks”.
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