Pubdate: Sat, 11 Sep 2010
Source: Wall Street Journal (US)
Copyright: 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.wsj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487

BORDER TOWN SHOOTINGS KILL 25

A Wall Street Journal Roundup

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Mexican authorities say 25 people have been
killed in a series of drug-gang shootings in Ciudad Juarez, marking
the deadliest day in three years for the border city.

Prosecutors' spokesman Arturo Sandoval says that in the worst attack,
gunmen burst into a house and killed two young men-then killed four
other people just for being witnesses.

Mr. Sandoval spoke Friday about the death toll Thursday. He said it
was the deadliest day in three years in the city across the border
from El Paso, Texas.

Ciudad Juarez has become one of the world's most dangerous cities amid
a battle for drug trafficking routes between the Sinaloa and Juarez
narcotics cartels.

In August, a gunbattle Saturday between Mexican police and gunmen in
Ciudad Juarez led El Paso police to close a city street along the
border for 30 minutes. It marked the first time that a street in El
Paso was closed because of shooting in the neighboring city.

In January, an attack on a party in Ciudad Juarez left 15 students
dead. The teenagers had gathered to watch an American football game
when a group of gunmen arrived and opened fire.

That attack led to a visit by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who
described the incident as a conflict between gang members.

Authorities later said it was a case of mistaken identity.

In July, a car bomb exploded among police vehicles in Ciudad Juarez,
killing four people and marking what was believed to be the first car
bombing during the drug war. 
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