Share and Follow
In response to a recent shooting at a popular tourist site, the Mexican government has announced plans to enhance security measures at key attractions. This decision follows an incident where a gunman opened fire on tourists at the pyramids near Mexico City, occurring just weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup.
The attack took place on Monday at Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most visited locations. Tragically, the shooting resulted in the death of one Canadian tourist and left a dozen others injured. The assailant acted alone, scaling one of the ancient pyramids to carry out the attack.
The incident prompted a wave of inquiries to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum from reporters eager to understand the government’s security plans as the country prepares to co-host the World Cup alongside the United States and Canada next summer.
Teotihuacan, situated about an hour from Mexico City, was expected to be a major draw for visitors during the World Cup festivities. In the days leading up to the shooting, local legislators had even proposed reinstating a nighttime interactive light show on the pyramids, an attraction that had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This shocking act of violence poses a significant challenge to President Sheinbaum’s administration, which has been striving to maintain a perception of safety in advance of the global sporting event. This effort comes on the heels of a surge in cartel-related violence earlier this year in Guadalajara, another World Cup host city.
“Events like this only further magnify the negative images that Mexico has on security issues, undermining the narrative that President Sheinbaum is trying to build that Mexico is a safe country,” said Mexican security analyst David Saucedo.
‘An isolated incident’
On Tuesday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the archaeological site lacked security filters to prevent the attack in part, she said, because the shooting “was an isolated incident” that hasn’t occurred before in such a public space.
While Mexico suffers from cartel violence, especially in strategic and rural areas, mass shootings in public spaces are rare in Mexico compared to the US, where it is much easier to legally obtain a gun.
She noted that the shooter appeared to be motivated by “outside influences,” particularly the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado.
“Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. But clearly, we all know — Mexicans know — that this is something that had not previously taken place,” Sheinbaum said Tuesday morning.
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, the face of the government’s crackdown on cartels, said on Tuesday that security forces had been ordered to “immediately strengthen security” at archaeological sites and major tourist destinations across the country.
He said the government will increase the presence of Mexican National Guard, boost security checks at key sites and fortify surveillance systems to “identify and prevent any threats” against citizens and visitors.
Security concerns ahead of World Cup
The announcement was an effort by Mexican authorities to assuage ongoing concerns about violence in Mexico ahead of the tournament.
Sheinbaum’s government has touted security successes under her leadership. Homicides have dipped sharply since she taken office to the lowest levels in a decade, government figures show. The government has also taken out a number of top capos and highlighted a dip in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border.
But they have hit hurdles in recent months, namely a burst a violence in Guadalajara in February, triggered by the killing of Mexico’s most powerful cartel boss.
The bloodshed was met with a wave of concern by people in and outside of Mexico. Sheinbaum vowed there would be “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had “full confidence” in Mexico as a host country. Sheinbaum later met with FIFA representatives to assess security for the World Cup matches to be played in Mexico.
Mexico’s government doubled down on security measures, which include deploying 100,000 security forces across the country, particularly concentrated in the country’s three host cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Officials said it would deploy more than 2,000 military vehicles, as well as dozens of air crafts and drones, and establish security perimeters around areas like stadiums and airports in key cities.
“As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said in early March.
Despite the rare nature of the Monday shooting at the pyramids, the extreme act of violence reignited scrutiny by some about the government’s capacity to prevent violence during the soccer tournament, and once again boosted pressures on the government.
FIFA was approached for comment about the pyramid shooting, but the soccer body typically does not address security issues and incidents that happen away from tournament venues.
Saucedo, the security analyst, said that pressures to concentrate security in host cities and tourist areas like Teotihuacan may come at the expense of other more crime-torn areas in greater need of police and military.
“Events like the one that took place yesterday in Teotihuacan clearly show that public safety agencies are overwhelmed,” he said.