By ALFREDO PEÑA (Associated Press)
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Mexico (AP) — Two of 4 Americans have been killed in Mexico when their van was caught within the crossfire of rival cartel teams final week, a high Mexican official mentioned Tuesday. The two others are alive, with one wounded.
Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal confirmed the deaths by telephone throughout a morning information convention by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, saying particulars concerning the 4 kidnapped Americans had been confirmed by prosecutors.
The FBI had reported Sunday that it was looking out with Mexican authorities for the lacking Americans, who have been kidnapped Friday. A relative of one among them mentioned Monday that they’d traveled collectively from South Carolina so one among them may get a tummy tuck from a Matamoros physician.
Shortly after coming into Mexico on Friday they have been within the crossfire of rival cartel teams. A video confirmed them being loaded into the again of a pickup truck by gunmen.
“Of the four, two of them are dead, one person is wounded and the other is alive and right now the ambulances and the rest of the security personnel are going for them for give the corresponding support,” Villarreal mentioned
The governor didn’t share any further particulars about the place or how they have been discovered. He was anticipated to share extra info at his personal day by day information convention scheduled for later Tuesday morning.
The U.S. residents have been present in a rural space east of Matamoros referred to as Ejido Longoreño on the best way to the native seashore often called Playa Baghdad, in keeping with a state authority who requested anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to discuss the case. Word of their location got here to authorities earlier than daybreak Tuesday.
Mexican officers mentioned a Mexican girl additionally had died in Fridays’ crossfire.
The incident illustrates the fear that has prevailed for years in Matamoros, a metropolis dominated by factions of the highly effective Gulf drug cartel who usually battle amongst themselves. Amid the violence, 1000’s of Mexicans have disappeared in Tamaulipas state alone.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”