Place: Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada, Tecate
Events: The United States Consulate General in Tijuana is aware of reports of multiple vehicle fires, street blockades, and heavy police activity in Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada, and Tecate. US government employees have been instructed to shelter in place until further notice.
Actions to take:
- Avoid the area
- Find safe shelter if you are already in the area
- Listen for updates on local media
- Be aware of your surroundings
- Let your friends and family know about your safety
Attendance:
- Contact form
- Embassy and consulates of the United States in Mexico
- From Mexico: 55-8526-2561
- From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
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Baja California.- Simultaneous fires of transport cars have been reported in different points of the municipalities of the state of Baja California .
Baja California authorities condemn the violent acts in Tijuana, Mexicali, and Ensenada, and assure us that they already have detainees.
At least 19 vehicles were set on fire this Friday afternoon in five cities in northern Mexico -Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate, Rosarito, and Tijuana-, without so far having information that allows knowing which organized crime group executed actions simultaneously.
The first reports from the Baja California authorities indicate that among the burned vehicles there are several taxis with reports of theft, cargo and passenger buses, in which the group of attackers lowered the occupants at gunpoint, and sprayed a flammable liquid and then they set it on fire.
Baja California thus joins the wave of violence that began this week in the states of Jalisco and Guanajuato in response to a military operation against leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and which spread Thursday night to the border Ciudad Juárez, which lived hours of terror in which at least 11 people died.
Users and witnesses have mentioned that the burning of vehicles has generated road chaos.
At the moment there is no security plan for citizens, although the burning of cars has already been reported, it was mentioned that the security plan will depend tonight on the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection.
Through social networks, users reported that, in addition to burning vehicles, armed civilians have organized blockades of access to cities and have paralyzed public transport activity.
Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, governor of Baja California, shared a message on her Twitter account in which she condemns the events and assures that there are already detainees for their probable relationship with the violent attacks.
Security plan
On the other hand, the governor mentioned that she was already meeting with the Security Table.
”I condemn the violent acts that occurred this afternoon in our state. At this moment I am meeting with the Security Table”
Montserrat Caballero, mayor of Tijuana, ruled out a curfew in the city and considered that citizens can continue their activities on a daily and peaceful basis. If necessary, she added, they are prepared to go out with all the elements of the army that are destined for the city of Tijuana to protect the streets.
Local media report that the most affected city is Tijuana, where 12 of the 19 fires have been recorded to vehicles located on the Francisco Villa neighborhood bridge, as well as on the El Chaparral bridge.
The attacks on the vehicles were apparently coordinated and began around 6:45 pm local time and ended at 7:15 pm, including ones that occurred outside the Xolos stadium.
So far it is only known that the attackers were masked and no group has claimed responsibility for the violent operation, although social networks are beginning to link it to similar events that occurred in the western state of Jalisco. The state authorities have not yet ruled on the matter.
” Everything closes in Tijuana”: Tijuana Municipal Public Security Citizen Committee
Baja California is in uncertainty due to the fact that criminal acts have been reported in all the municipalities of the state, similar to those that have recently occurred in other states of Mexico.
Due to the above, the Tijuana Municipal Public Security Citizen Committee issued the following message through which it calls on all merchants to take precautions and close and go home:
Dear fellow Coordinators. We must act tonight in the most prudent way possible so that between the population and the authorities control can be established in our city and our state…today all businesses are closed and we must all stay in our homes so that the three levels of government take control. Let’s avoid Panic….but if we are alert to the indications of the authority….Tonight everything is closed…..pass the information…Thank you
In the same way, it has been reported that they have begun to evacuate movie theaters and bars, to avoid exposing the population to any type of incident.
