Mexico's government is ramping up security at tourist sites after a lone gunman opened fire on visitors at the Teotihuacan pyramids near Mexico City, killing one Canadian tourist and wounding 13 others. The attack occurred less than two months before the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada in June and July.
The Monday shooting took place atop one of the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mexico's most visited attractions. The assailant, acting alone, was reportedly influenced by the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado, according to President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The incident has raised urgent questions about security protocols ahead of the global football tournament. Teotihuacan, located about an hour from Mexico City, was slated to be a key destination for World Cup visitors. Just days before the shooting, local lawmakers had pushed to revive a nighttime light show at the pyramids for tourists.
President Sheinbaum acknowledged on Tuesday that the archaeological site lacked security filters to prevent such an attack, calling it an "isolated incident" that had never occurred in such a public space before. However, the government faces mounting pressure to ensure safety during the World Cup, especially after a surge of cartel violence in Guadalajara in February.
Mexico's Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch announced that security forces have been ordered to "immediately strengthen security" at archaeological sites and key tourist destinations nationwide. Measures include increasing the presence of the National Guard, boosting security checks, and fortifying surveillance systems.
The Sheinbaum administration has touted a decline in homicides to their lowest level in a decade. However, critics question the government's capacity to prevent violence during the World Cup, despite plans to deploy 100,000 security personnel, 2,000 military vehicles, and dozens of aircraft and drones, with a focus on host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
The rare mass shooting at the pyramids has reignited scrutiny of Mexico's security situation. While the country struggles with cartel violence, such public shootings are uncommon compared to the United States. The government insists it is "very prepared" for the World Cup, but the attack has heightened concerns among international visitors and officials.
Source: www.aljazeera.com