Arson Fire Kills 40 in a Casino in Mexico
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
MEXICO CITY — Armed men burst into a casino in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Thursday and set a fire that killed at least 40 people and injured several others, the authorities said.
The attack, shortly after 3 p.m. at the Casino Royale, was the worst massacre, according to tallies by Mexican news organizations, since a crackdown on drug gangs by the authorities and infighting among the gangs exploded more than five years ago.
Monterrey, once a peaceful business and industrial hub in Nuevo Leon State, has been hit hard by the violence as at least two major criminal organizations battle for control. Bodies are regularly found hanging from overpasses, several people have been killed in bars and the American consulate there has moved the younger children of its workers from the city.
Casinos, growing in number across the country, have also emerged lately as targets of extortion, violence and money laundering.
President Felipe Calderón, who began a major offensive against organized crime in 2006, lamented on his Twitter account “this perverse act of terror and barbarity” and said it showed the need to persevere in the fight against crime.
Nuevo Leon’s governor, Rodrigo Medina, said in a telephone interview broadcast on television by Milenio that it appears six men arrived at the casino in two vehicles, spread a flammable liquid and lighted it. El Norte, a local newspaper, quoted witnesses as saying that at least a dozen men entered and ordered everyone to get out, setting off a stampede for the few exits that was accompanied by explosions, smoke and flames.
Many victims appeared to be women and the elderly, who often bet there.
Mr. Medina said no motive had been determined, and he would not comment on reports that the casino may have refused to pay protection money to a gang.
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In a nationally televised address, Mr. Calderón called the attack by armed men on Thursday the most serious against the civilian population in his term, which began in 2006 with a crackdown on drug cartels. Other massacres have occurred, as evidenced by mass graves, but it is unclear if the victims found in those graves came from one attack or more.
Mr. Calderón promised to send more federal forces to Monterrey and surrounding Nuevo Leon State, though there is already a very large contingent of military and federal police who were sent there after previous attacks.
“It is evident we are not facing common criminals, we are facing true terrorists who have surpassed not only the limits of the law but basic common sense and respect for life,” he said, his voice tinged with anger and invoking the specter of narco-terrorism, a concept Mexican officials generally play down.
Mr. Calderón also reiterated calls for the Mexican congress to enact reforms he has proposed to improve security and for the United States to reduce its consumption of drugs and sale of guns, many of which end up used in attacks in Mexico.
“We are neighbors, we are allies, we are friends, but you too share responsibility,” he said.
A security camera captured video of men in four vehicles pulling up to the front of Casino Royale in Monterrey, an important business and industrial hub 150 miles from the Texas border that has emerged in the past year as one of the most violent cities in the country.
The attackers spilled out of their vehicles, some dashing into the casino while others, holding what appeared to be assault rifles, waved people away as city traffic carried on usual. In less than a few minutes, thick black smoke and flames blocked other images from the camera.
The authorities said the men spread flammable liquid all around the interior and lit it, causing flames and smoke to quickly engulf the building as dozens of people inside stampeded in terror.
“People were falling down,” a witness told the El Norte newspaper in Monterrey. “We couldn’t get out through the main entrance because the armed men were there.”
She fled to the back, she said.
“I just went to one side and ran out running,” she said. “I didn’t know where to run to. I saw a friend and we got into her car.”
No motive has been determined but the attack bore the earmarks of an organized crime assault and Mr. Calderón connected the disaster to the battle against drug crime. The crackdown he began, as well as infighting among the cartels, have left more than 35,000 people dead.
Casinos, growing in number across the country, have emerged lately as targets of extortion, violence and money laundering.
Rodrigo Medina, the governor of Nuevo Leon State, in an interview with the Milenio television network said no motive had been determined, and he would not comment on reports that the casino may have refused to pay protection money to a gang.
Many victims appeared to be women and the elderly, who often bet there.
Monterrey, once a peaceful city, , has been hit hard by the violence as at least two major criminal organizations battle for control. Bodies are regularly found hanging from overpasses, several people have been killed in bars and the American consulate there has moved the younger children of its workers from the city.
President Obama on Friday condemned the “barbaric and reprehensible” attack.
“The people of Mexico and their government are engaged in a brave fight to disrupt violent transnational criminal organizations that threaten both Mexico and the United States,” he said in a statement. “The United States is and will remain a partner in this fight.”
The attack, shortly after 3 p.m. at the Casino Royale, was the worst massacre, according to tallies by Mexican news organizations, since a crackdown on drug gangs by the authorities and infighting among the gangs exploded more than five years ago.
Monterrey, once a peaceful business and industrial hub in Nuevo Leon State, has been hit hard by the violence as at least two major criminal organizations battle for control. Bodies are regularly found hanging from overpasses, several people have been killed in bars and the American consulate there has moved the younger children of its workers from the city.
Casinos, growing in number across the country, have also emerged lately as targets of extortion, violence and money laundering.
President Felipe Calderón, who began a major offensive against organized crime in 2006, lamented on his Twitter account “this perverse act of terror and barbarity” and said it showed the need to persevere in the fight against crime.
Nuevo Leon’s governor, Rodrigo Medina, said in a telephone interview broadcast on television by Milenio that it appears six men arrived at the casino in two vehicles, spread a flammable liquid and lighted it. El Norte, a local newspaper, quoted witnesses as saying that at least a dozen men entered and ordered everyone to get out, setting off a stampede for the few exits that was accompanied by explosions, smoke and flames.
Many victims appeared to be women and the elderly, who often bet there.
Mr. Medina said no motive had been determined, and he would not comment on reports that the casino may have refused to pay protection money to a gang.
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Mexico’s President Vows Continued Fight in Wake of Casino Attack
Victor Hugo Valdivia/Reuters
A soldier stands guard outside a casino after it was torched by armed men in Monterrey on Friday.
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
Published: August 26, 2011
MEXICO CITY — President Felipe Calderón on Friday called an arson attack that killed 52 people in a northern Mexico casino a terrorist act and promised to redouble the country’s efforts against criminal gangs. He also urged Mexicans to observe three days of national mourning.
Related
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Arson Fire Kills 52 in a Casino in Mexico (August 26, 2011)
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U.S. Widens Role in Mexican Fight (August 26, 2011)
Mr. Calderón promised to send more federal forces to Monterrey and surrounding Nuevo Leon State, though there is already a very large contingent of military and federal police who were sent there after previous attacks.
“It is evident we are not facing common criminals, we are facing true terrorists who have surpassed not only the limits of the law but basic common sense and respect for life,” he said, his voice tinged with anger and invoking the specter of narco-terrorism, a concept Mexican officials generally play down.
Mr. Calderón also reiterated calls for the Mexican congress to enact reforms he has proposed to improve security and for the United States to reduce its consumption of drugs and sale of guns, many of which end up used in attacks in Mexico.
“We are neighbors, we are allies, we are friends, but you too share responsibility,” he said.
A security camera captured video of men in four vehicles pulling up to the front of Casino Royale in Monterrey, an important business and industrial hub 150 miles from the Texas border that has emerged in the past year as one of the most violent cities in the country.
The attackers spilled out of their vehicles, some dashing into the casino while others, holding what appeared to be assault rifles, waved people away as city traffic carried on usual. In less than a few minutes, thick black smoke and flames blocked other images from the camera.
The authorities said the men spread flammable liquid all around the interior and lit it, causing flames and smoke to quickly engulf the building as dozens of people inside stampeded in terror.
“People were falling down,” a witness told the El Norte newspaper in Monterrey. “We couldn’t get out through the main entrance because the armed men were there.”
She fled to the back, she said.
“I just went to one side and ran out running,” she said. “I didn’t know where to run to. I saw a friend and we got into her car.”
No motive has been determined but the attack bore the earmarks of an organized crime assault and Mr. Calderón connected the disaster to the battle against drug crime. The crackdown he began, as well as infighting among the cartels, have left more than 35,000 people dead.
Casinos, growing in number across the country, have emerged lately as targets of extortion, violence and money laundering.
Rodrigo Medina, the governor of Nuevo Leon State, in an interview with the Milenio television network said no motive had been determined, and he would not comment on reports that the casino may have refused to pay protection money to a gang.
Many victims appeared to be women and the elderly, who often bet there.
Monterrey, once a peaceful city, , has been hit hard by the violence as at least two major criminal organizations battle for control. Bodies are regularly found hanging from overpasses, several people have been killed in bars and the American consulate there has moved the younger children of its workers from the city.
President Obama on Friday condemned the “barbaric and reprehensible” attack.
“The people of Mexico and their government are engaged in a brave fight to disrupt violent transnational criminal organizations that threaten both Mexico and the United States,” he said in a statement. “The United States is and will remain a partner in this fight.”
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