- Title: MEXICO: Three dead and two injured in attack on prison director in Chihuahua city
- Date: 13th August 2009
- Summary: CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (AUGUST 12, 2009) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) POLICE VEHICLE IN RAINY STREET / FLASHING LIGHTS FORENSIC SCIENTISTS' VAN ARRIVING AT CRIME SCENE POLICE VEHICLES MAN WORKING IN FORENSIC SCIENTISTS' VAN POLICE INSPECTING ATTACKED VEHICLE FORENSIC SCIENTISTS' VAN FORENSIC SCIENTISTS PLACING BODY ON STRETCHER INTO VAN VARIOUS OF VAN AND CRIME SCENE STREET SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STATE PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER, VICTOR VALENCIA, SAYING: "Precisely, he was present at the scene, the director of the Aquiles Serdan prison, Gerardo Hernandez. Fortunately he was uninjured during the attack. Unfortunately three of his bodyguards were killed, two were injured. They are out of danger and receiving medical attention and are being guarded by the militia and police. The director is uninjured, with no physical injuries, either moderate of severe but is shocked by the unfortunate event." VARIOUS OF HOSPITAL WERE SURVIVING BODYGUARDS ARE BEING TREATED
- Embargoed: 28th August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Reuters ID: LVA1MQHT6OSG3U108GB7V9A02CLN
- Story Text: A heavily armed commando attacks a prison director's vehicle killing three of his bodyguards and injuring two in Chihuahua city, the capital of Chihuahua state near Texas, during an ongoing vicious drug war.
An armed commando attacked a prison director's vehicle at dawn on Wednesday (August 12) killing three of his bodyguards and injuring two in Chihuahua city, the capital of Chihuahua state near Texas, police said.
Authorities suspect the assault was an assassination attempt on the life of Gerardo Hernandez, who directs the Aquiles Serdan prison on the outskirts of Chihuahua.
Three lifeless bodies were found by police inside two SUVs. Authorities said the attack occurred at around 01:22 local time (0722 GMT).
Dozens of weapons were seized by police at the crime scene.
Hours later, police found three abandoned vehicles, some of which were reported as stolen, were riddled with bullet holes and contained weapons and drugs. Police are investigating whether the vehicles were used by the fleeing gunmen.
"Precisely, he was present at the scene, the director of the Aquiles Serdan prison, Gerardo Hernandez. Fortunately he was uninjured during the attack. Unfortunately three of his bodyguards were killed, two were injured. They are out of danger and receiving medical attention and are being guarded by the militia and police. The director is uninjured, with no physical injuries, either moderate of severe but is shocked by the unfortunate event," said state public security minister, Victor Valencia, adding Hernandez was being heavily protected by authorities.
Calderon's drug war has become the biggest challenge of his presidency, as the army assault has sparked new turf wars and killings between rival cartels that have left more than 13,000 people dead, including many police, in under three years.
Chihuahua has become the bloodiest state in Calderon's drug war as rival traffickers fight over smuggling routes into Texas and road and rail links deep into the United States.
Calderon sent 10,000 troops to Ciudad Juarez in March to try to end the war between the local Juarez cartel and Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, who leads a powerful group of traffickers from the Pacific state of Sinaloa.
But violence continues unabated across Chihuahua. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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