The Mexican government has announced plans to enhance security at popular tourist destinations following a shocking incident where a gunman opened fire on visitors at the pyramids near Mexico City. This comes just under two months before the nation co-hosts the FIFA World Cup.
On Monday, a shooter ascended one of the pyramids at Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top tourist attraction in Mexico. The attack tragically resulted in the death of a Canadian tourist and left a dozen others injured.
In the aftermath of the incident, reporters questioned Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about the security measures being implemented in preparation for the major sports event. The World Cup will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada during the coming summer.
Teotihuacan, located about an hour from Mexico City, was expected to be a highlight for visitors during the World Cup festivities. Just before the shooting, local authorities had proposed reviving a previously suspended nighttime light show on the pyramids for the event, which had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This unexpected violence occurs as President Sheinbaum’s administration has been working hard to assure the global community of safety in advance of the World Cup. This effort follows a surge in cartel-related violence in February in Guadalajara, another host city.
“Incidents like this exacerbate the negative perceptions surrounding Mexico’s security issues, challenging President Sheinbaum’s efforts to portray the country as safe,” commented David Saucedo, a Mexican security analyst.
‘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.
