- Title: Mexican president defends security plan after police massacre
- Date: 15th October 2019
- Summary: AGUILILLA, MICHOACAN, MEXICO (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE CLOSE TO AREA OF AMBUSH VARIOUS OF CHARRED REMAINS OF POLICE VEHICLES POLICE AT CRIME SCENE CHARRED REMAINS OF POLICE VEHICLE POLICE OFFICER WALKING IN STREET CHARRED REMAINS OF VEHICLES AT SCENE POLICE VEHICLES LEAVING SCENE
- Embargoed: 29th October 2019 19:47
- Keywords: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defend security strategy blamed past administrations chronic violence killed ambush suspected cartel gunmen
- Location: AGUILILLA, MICHOACAN / MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: AGUILILLA, MICHOACAN / MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA001B17MB0N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended his security strategy on Tuesday (October 15) and blamed past administrations for chronic violence, a day after at least 13 police were killed in an ambush by suspected cartel gunmen.
Lopez Obrador told a news conference the ambush in the western state of Michoacan was "very regrettable" but reiterated that his commitment to increased spending on security and tackling the root causes of violence would eventually pay dividends.
Lopez Obrador described the site of the ambush as a "violent area."
The leftist leader has sharply criticized past efforts that pursued an army-led approach to battling crime.
But after a record number of homicides in Mexico in 2018, they are on track to go even higher this year, putting Lopez Obrador under increasing pressure to stop massacres like Monday's ambush in the violent western state of Michoacan.
He hopes his welfare schemes, including youth scholarships and apprenticeships, will help draw people away from crime.
Photos of the crime scene published on social media showed bullet-riddled police vehicles set on fire, as well as the bodies of slain officers on the ground.
(Production: Alan Ortega, Manuel Carrillo, Geraldine Downer) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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