Four US residents have been shot at and kidnapped by gunmen after they crossed the Mexico border to purchase drugs as a search is below solution to discover them, say authorities.
The FBI mentioned the unidentified Americans had entered the northern metropolis of Matamoros from Texas on Friday and have been taken after armed males opened hearth on their minivan.
Mexico’s president mentioned the 4 had gone to buy drugs and ended up caught within the crossfire between two teams of gunmen.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador advised reporters: “These are people from the United States, and the information we have is that they crossed the border to buy medicine in Mexico and there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained.”
“It’s already being taken care of. I believe it is going to be resolved. I expect so, I hope so,” he went on.
US President Joe Biden is conscious of the “unacceptable” kidnappings, mentioned the White House, which added it’s “ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance, and US law enforcement is in touch with Mexican law enforcement”.
The FBI San Antonio Division workplace mentioned all 4 Americans have been “placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men”.
Matamoros is simply situated south of Brownsville, Texas.
US ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar mentioned the Americans have been kidnapped at gunpoint and that an “innocent” Mexican was killed.
FBI presents $50,000 reward
Mexican and US authorities mentioned on Monday they have been working to find the 4 Americans and the FBI is providing a $50,000 (£41,000) reward for the secure return of the victims and the arrest of the culprits.
The 4 have been in a white minivan with North Carolina quantity plates once they entered Matamoros, the US embassy to Mexico mentioned.
The armed males allegedly fired on the passengers shortly after their automobile crossed the border after which herded them into one other automobile earlier than fleeing the scene, it added.
A video posted on social media on Friday confirmed armed males, some carrying physique armour, placing 4 individuals into the again of a truck in broad daylight. One was alive and sitting up, however the others gave the impression to be both lifeless or injured.
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Matamoros is residence to warring factions of the Gulf drug cartel and shootouts there on Friday have been so extreme that the US consulate issued an alert concerning the hazard and native authorities warned individuals to take shelter.
The US state division has a “do not travel” warning for Tamaulipas state, the place Matamoros is situated, because of “crime and kidnapping”.
As a border metropolis, US residents who reside in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas continuously cross to go to household, attend medical appointments or store and it is usually used as a crossing level for individuals travelling deeper into Mexico.
Source: information.sky.com”