Two US citizens kidnapped in Mexico have been killed. Two others were found alive, one with injuries, Mexican authorities said. “Ambulances and security forces are on their way,” said the governor of the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, Américo Villarreal, during a live telephone conversation with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. According to the head of state, a suspect was arrested.
The Americans drove across the border on Friday for a cosmetic operation, as reported by the media, citing relatives. In the border town of Matamoros, they were attacked by gunmen and kidnapped. A Mexican woman was killed.
The US State Department confirmed the deaths of the two US citizens in Washington on Tuesday and said the other two had since been brought back to the United States. Work is still in progress on repatriating the remains of the two dead, said ministry spokesman Ned Price. The investigation into the case is still in its infancy. The US authorities could only provide further information on this later.
The communications director of the US government’s National Security Council, John Kirby, spoke of a “terrible incident”. He said the US side is working with Mexican authorities to learn more about what happened. “Attacks on US citizens are unacceptable, no matter where and under what circumstances,” he said.
