This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-39930772
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Mexican drug trade reporter Javier Valdez killed | Mexican drug trade reporter Javier Valdez killed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, known for his award-winning coverage of the drug trade, has been shot dead. | |
Unidentified attackers opened fire on him on Monday in Culiacan city in the north-western state of Sinaloa, where he lived and worked. | |
Valdez, 50, received the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2011 for his work. | |
He is one of several journalists who have been killed in Mexico this year. | |
Valdez was shot dead on the street near the premises of the Mexican news weekly he had founded, RioDoce. | |
During his career spanning nearly three decades, Valdez wrote extensively on drug-trafficking and organised crime in Mexico, including the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. | During his career spanning nearly three decades, Valdez wrote extensively on drug-trafficking and organised crime in Mexico, including the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. |
The cartel is believed to be responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the US via Mexico. | The cartel is believed to be responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the US via Mexico. |
Its founder Joaquin Guzman, also known as "El Chapo" (Shorty), was captured in 2014 and is currently in jail awaiting trial in the US. | |
Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the killing, calling it an "outrageous crime", and added that his government remained committed to press freedom. | |
Sinaloa state attorney general Juan Jose Rios said they were investigating the death, and would protect Valdez's family and colleagues. | |
"Above all else we are interested in Javier's family," he told reporters. | |
The CPJ's Mexico representative Jan-Albert Hootsen said Valdez's killing was "an attack on journalism, all journalists throughout Mexico". | |
In March, after journalist Miroslava Breach was shot dead, Valdez was quoted as saying "No to silence" and "Let them kill us all". | In March, after journalist Miroslava Breach was shot dead, Valdez was quoted as saying "No to silence" and "Let them kill us all". |
Speaking at a launch of his book last year, he said: "Being a journalist is like being on a blacklist." | |
"Even though you may have bullet-proofing and bodyguards, [the gangs] will decide what day they are going to kill you." | |
Like Valdez, Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption. | Like Valdez, Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption. |
Other Mexican journalists killed this year include freelancers Maximino Rodriguez and Cecilio Pineda Birto, according to the CPJ. | |
The CPJ says at least 40 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992. |