February 2011

Week of February 14, 2011

Guadalajara
At approximately 4:00AM on February 12th, members of a drug trafficking organization threw a grenade and fired semi-automatic weapons into an upscale bar, The Butter Club, located less than one block from the Fiesta Americana Hotel. At least 6 people were killed and 37 wounded as a result of this incident.

On the afternoon of February 14th, multiple rounds fired from semi-automatic weapons killed one victim and injured at least one bystander in a shopping mall, located within one block of the Lincoln School where many American children study.

San Luis Potosi
On February 15, one U.S. government employee was murdered and another seriously wounded in an attack while traveling in a U.S. government vehicle on Mexican Highway 57 near Santa Maria del Rio, San Luis Potosi. The U.S. Embassy cautioned citizens residing in, visiting, or traveling through the geographic area bordered by, and including, the central Mexican cities of San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes,
Leon, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende to maintain a heightened sense of alert while the Mexican government investigation into this incident continues. Americans in this area should monitor local news and information to stay informed about situations that could affect their security. 

The U.S. Mission also instructed its employees and their families to defer travel to the State of San Luis Potosi, effective immediately. U.S. citizens should defer unnecessary travel to the State.

Week of February 3, 2011

Nuevo Laredo
At 2:00 a.m. on January 29, a man was shot in the head by suspected cartel gunmen after attempting to evade an “identification stop” next to the federal building in downtown Nuevo Laredo. The victim was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition. 
Early on the morning of January 30, a gun battle and several explosions rocked downtown Nuevo Laredo. The military responded to the scene and found three empty vehicles, one of which appeared to have sustained a grenade explosion from within the vehicle. No bodies were found, but investigators found evidence consistent with the presence of two victims. Later the same day, Border Patrol agents in Laredo, TX reported hearing shots fired on the Mexican side of the river on Colosio highway in the vicinity of the Holiday Inn. 

Nuevo Leon
On January 23, a couple from Texas were attacked at an illegal roadblock and chased by gunmen who may have wanted to steal their truck. One of the passengers was shot during the attempted escape and later died in a Texas hospital.

Guadalajara
The U.S. Consulate General has determined to restrict U.S. Government officials from travelling after dark between Guadalajara and the Guadalajara International Airport and recommends that U.S. citizens consider similar precautions. For additional information, see the warden message issued by the Consulate General on February 3, 2011. http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/annoucements/consular-warden-message3/warden-message-january-20-2011.html