$50,000 Reward: 4 US Citizens Kidnapped by Gunmen in Mexico Iran’s Religious Leader Pardons 80,000 Prisoners

Four US citizens have been kidnapped by gunmen in northeastern Mexico. A Mexican was also killed in the incident in the border town of Matamoros, US Ambassador Ken Salazar said Monday.

According to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Americans crossed the border on Friday to buy medicines in Mexico. They were kidnapped. The US federal police FBI offered a reward of $ 50,000 (46,500 francs) for information.

Matamoros is located in the violent state of Tamaulipas, directly across from the Texas city of Brownsville, on the border of the Rio Grande River. According to the authorities, several people were killed on Friday in hours of armed clashes between rival gangs. However, more detailed information about the dead and injured was not available.

“These kinds of attacks are unacceptable,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. US law enforcement officers interact with their Mexican counterparts. “We will continue to coordinate with Mexico and urge those responsible to be held accountable.”

Mexico has been suffering from a wave of violence for years. Last year, 31,936 murders were registered in the Latin American country with a population of 126 million. Numerous drug cartels and other criminal groups vie for control of areas of influence and smuggling routes. They often have ties to corrupt politicians and security forces. Most murders are never solved. (sda/dpa)