News (Media Awareness Project) - Mexico: Grenade Attacks Put Juarez On Alert |
| Title: | Mexico: Grenade Attacks Put Juarez On Alert |
| Published On: | 2010-08-03 |
| Source: | El Paso Times (TX) |
| Fetched On: | 2010-08-05 03:02:09 |
GRENADE ATTACKS PUT JUAREZ ON ALERT
EL PASO -- Four separate grenade and shootout attacks on federal
agents Sunday, along with a prison riot, prompted a state of maximum
alert Monday in Juarez.
The attacks happened within a two-hour time frame starting at 7:20
p.m. Sunday. They took place in different parts of the city, officials
said.
Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz declared the alert Monday afternoon.
"The level of alert will continue until we feel the situation does not
present a threat to our local police," Ferriz said.
The state of alert means more police will patrol the streets. Also,
Ferriz will beef up security at police stations and city buildings.
In addition, Ferriz canceled his trip to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he
was to meet with South American mayors Wednesday.
It all started when a riot broke out Sunday afternoon on the rooftop
of the state Cereso prison in south Juarez, leaving two people dead
and seven others injured.
Later, two fragmentation grenades, which are military weapons, were
thrown at the federal police command center in central Juarez about 7
p.m. Only one exploded against the wall of a nearby building. No one
was hurt.
Shortly afterward, a federal policeman was shot dead in north Juarez.
Three other police officers were wounded in the attack about 7:20 p.m.
Fifteen minutes later, gunfire erupted between federal police and a
group of gunmen in central Juarez across from a motel called Las
Fuentes. Federal agents were patrolling the area when they found a
stolen vehicle. They called a towing company to remove the car when
two other vehicles suddenly drove by and began shooting at them.
Federal police shot back. Gunmen then threw two fragmentation
grenades, which exploded and injured two federal policemen and a taco
stand owner.
The last attack against federal police happened about 9 p.m. in
central Juarez. In that shooting, three police officers and a civilian
were injured.
Police said they do not believe the incidents are connected.
Drug violence in Mexico has intensified recently. Two weeks ago, a
deadly car bombing in Juarez heightened public safety concerns.
About 1,700 people have been killed in Juarez this year. About 5,900
have been slain since 2008 when drug cartel violence intensified.
EL PASO -- Four separate grenade and shootout attacks on federal
agents Sunday, along with a prison riot, prompted a state of maximum
alert Monday in Juarez.
The attacks happened within a two-hour time frame starting at 7:20
p.m. Sunday. They took place in different parts of the city, officials
said.
Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz declared the alert Monday afternoon.
"The level of alert will continue until we feel the situation does not
present a threat to our local police," Ferriz said.
The state of alert means more police will patrol the streets. Also,
Ferriz will beef up security at police stations and city buildings.
In addition, Ferriz canceled his trip to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he
was to meet with South American mayors Wednesday.
It all started when a riot broke out Sunday afternoon on the rooftop
of the state Cereso prison in south Juarez, leaving two people dead
and seven others injured.
Later, two fragmentation grenades, which are military weapons, were
thrown at the federal police command center in central Juarez about 7
p.m. Only one exploded against the wall of a nearby building. No one
was hurt.
Shortly afterward, a federal policeman was shot dead in north Juarez.
Three other police officers were wounded in the attack about 7:20 p.m.
Fifteen minutes later, gunfire erupted between federal police and a
group of gunmen in central Juarez across from a motel called Las
Fuentes. Federal agents were patrolling the area when they found a
stolen vehicle. They called a towing company to remove the car when
two other vehicles suddenly drove by and began shooting at them.
Federal police shot back. Gunmen then threw two fragmentation
grenades, which exploded and injured two federal policemen and a taco
stand owner.
The last attack against federal police happened about 9 p.m. in
central Juarez. In that shooting, three police officers and a civilian
were injured.
Police said they do not believe the incidents are connected.
Drug violence in Mexico has intensified recently. Two weeks ago, a
deadly car bombing in Juarez heightened public safety concerns.
About 1,700 people have been killed in Juarez this year. About 5,900
have been slain since 2008 when drug cartel violence intensified.
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