Two out of four Americans kidnapped by gunmen on Friday in Matamoros, a city in northeastern Mexico on the border with the United States, were found dead on Tuesday, announced the governor of the state of Tamaulipas, one of the most dangerous from the country.
“This has been confirmed by the prosecution, of the four (Americans), two are dead, one is injured and the other is alive,” Governor Americo Villarreal said by phone during Mexican President Andrés’ morning press conference. Manuel López Obrador.
“The ambulances and the rest of the security personnel will now provide the necessary support for the transfer and any medical assistance that may be necessary,” added the governor, without giving further details on the state of health of the two. Americans found alive.
He also did not specify where the hostages were found, although the operations deployed by the Mexican authorities, in coordination with American intelligence agencies, extended to a large area of Tamaulipas, of which Matamoros is a part.
The American authorities immediately reacted, indicating that they will “work closely with the Mexican government to ensure that justice is done”, according to John Kirby, spokesman for the White House for national security issues. Attacks against American citizens are “unacceptable”, he said, sending his “deepest condolences” to the relatives of the two people killed.
The FBI had offered a $50,000 reward for any assistance in freeing the hostages and apprehending the suspects.
The four Americans, whose identity has not been revealed, had crossed Matamoros driving a white mini van registered in North Carolina before being targeted by gunfire and then kidnapped by armed men, the FBI said. in a statement released Monday by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.
According to the Mexican president, the victims would have traveled to Mexico to buy drugs. Mexican authorities also said on Monday that a Mexican woman lost her life in the firefight.
“We are sorry that this is happening in our country and we send our condolences to the families of the victims, to their friends, to the people of the United States, to the government of the United States,” Mr. Lopez Obrador said after the confirmation of the death.
“We work every day to guarantee peace, tranquility, and we will continue to work again” like that, he added. On Monday, he had received the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, to discuss the case.
The city of Matamoros, located on the border with the United States, is plagued by violence linked to drug trafficking and organized crime.
The roads in the Tamaulipas region are considered the most dangerous in Mexico due to the risk of kidnapping and extortion by criminal groups.
The US State Department advises against travel to the region. “Criminal groups target public and private buses, as well as private cars traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers hostage and demanding ransoms,” according to a travel advisory.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price reminded US citizens on Monday that the advisory for Tamaulipas remains in effect. “Do not go. We encourage Americans to follow this advice,” he said.