Mexico pledges World Cup safety after shooting at ancient pyramids

Top Mexican officials on Tuesday vowed to ensure safety ahead of the World Cup soccer matches following a shooting at the famed Teotihuacan pyramids that ‌killed a Canadian tourist, and said the gunman appeared to have been influenced by violent incidents abroad.

Holding a gun and carrying a knife in his backpack, a 27-year-old man caused panic when he opened fire from atop a pyramid within the sprawling complex that is one of Mexico’s top tourism draws, officials said. He then took his own life.

Mexican officials said he acted alone, firing 14 times at the victims and at National Guard military police.

Mexico’s security cabinet on Monday said 13 people were injured, including a 13-year-old and a 6-year-old. They hailed from Canada, the U.S., Colombia, Russia, Brazil and the Netherlands. Seven of the victims suffered gunshot wounds, Cervantes added on Tuesday.

“The state’s response was immediate and forceful,” Security Minister, Omar Garcia ​Harfuch, told reporters, adding that law ​enforcement will tighten security at ⁠archaeological sites and other top tourist sites.

Teotihuacan, a collection of towering pyramids and temples that were first occupied from 100 B.C. to 500 A.D. and later taken over by the Aztecs, attracted 1.8 million visitors last year, according to Mexico’s tourism ministry.

The prized site will reopen on Wednesday with reinforced security, President Claudia Sheinbaum said.

She reiterated Mexico’s ⁠guarantees of safety during the world’s largest soccer event, which will open on June 11 in Mexico City before matches in other major Mexican cities, and said on Monday she met with FIFA staff, who organize the World Cup, to discuss logistics.

“We all know we had never seen anything like ⁠this in Mexico,” she said. “From what prosecutors have indicated, this person showed signs of psychological problems and was influenced by incidents that had occurred abroad.”

Sheinbaum had already faced questions about safety around the World Cup after the capture and death of drug kingpin El Mencho in March sparked violent episodes in various regions around the country.-Reuters

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