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Mexican federal forces to investigate mass grave and missing students Mexican federal forces to investigate mass grave and missing students
(about 1 hour later)
Mexican authorities have sent federal agents to take over security in a troubled city in southern Guerrero state after the discovery of a mass grave and claims that local police conspired with a criminal gang to kidnap and kill students.Mexican authorities have sent federal agents to take over security in a troubled city in southern Guerrero state after the discovery of a mass grave and claims that local police conspired with a criminal gang to kidnap and kill students.
On Monday, the newly created preventative unit of the federal police was given the task of keeping order in Iguala and helping search for the 43 students still missing following an attack on 26 September, in which six people died. On Monday the newly created preventive unit of the federal police was given the task of keeping order in Iguala and helping search for the 43 students still missing following an attack on 26 September in which six people died.
As state officials tried to determine whether any of the missing were among 28 bodies found over the weekend in a clandestine hillside grave, President Enrique Peña Nieto called the deaths “outrageous, painful and unacceptable”.As state officials tried to determine whether any of the missing were among 28 bodies found over the weekend in a clandestine hillside grave, President Enrique Peña Nieto called the deaths “outrageous, painful and unacceptable”.
Peña Nieto said he dispatched federal security forces to “find out what happened and apply the full extent of the law to those responsible”. Peña Nieto said he had dispatched federal security forces to “find out what happened and apply the full extent of the law to those responsible”.
Guerrero state prosecutor Inaky Blanco said so far there was no known motive for the attack, but officials have alleged that local police were in league with a gang called the Guerreros Unidos. The Guerrero state prosecutor Inaky Blanco said there was no known motive for the attack, but officials have alleged that local police were in league with a gang called the Guerreros Unidos.
Investigators said video showed officers taking away an undetermined number of students, who had gone from a rural teachers college in Ayotzinapa to the city to solicit donations. Investigators said video showed officers taking away an undetermined number of students who had travelled from a rural teachers college in Ayotzinapa to the city to solicit donations.
A banner in the name of the Guerreros Unidos demanded that 22 police officers detained in connection with the attack be released within 24 hours, and warned that otherwise: “The war has started.”A banner in the name of the Guerreros Unidos demanded that 22 police officers detained in connection with the attack be released within 24 hours, and warned that otherwise: “The war has started.”
The federal takeover came amid rising international concern over the Iguala incident and another possible case of a mass killing involving Mexican authorities. The federal takeover came amid rising international concern over the Iguala incident and another possible case of mass killing involving Mexican authorities.
An army unit is under investigation and three soldiers face homicide charges after 22 suspected gang members in a neighbouring Mexico state were killed in a 30 June confrontation. The army originally reported that they died in a gun battle after soldiers on patrol came under fire, but a witness told the Associated Press that 21 of them were killed after they surrendered. An army unit is under investigation and three soldiers face homicide charges after 22 suspected gang members in a neighbouring state were killed in a confrontation on 30 June. The army originally reported that they died in a gun battle after soldiers on patrol came under fire, but a witness told the Associated Press that 21 of them were killed after they surrendered.
In Guerrero, Blanco said the bodies in the mass grave were badly damaged and genetic testing to identify them could take up to two months.In Guerrero, Blanco said the bodies in the mass grave were badly damaged and genetic testing to identify them could take up to two months.
He said a person detained in the case had told investigators that 17 students were taken to the site outside Iguala, about 120 miles (200 km) south of Mexico City, and killed there.He said a person detained in the case had told investigators that 17 students were taken to the site outside Iguala, about 120 miles (200 km) south of Mexico City, and killed there.
On Monday, Iguala’s remaining police force was sent to a training centre, and officers’ weapons were to be checked to see if they had been used in crimes, said Monte Alejandro Rubido, the national security commissioner.On Monday, Iguala’s remaining police force was sent to a training centre, and officers’ weapons were to be checked to see if they had been used in crimes, said Monte Alejandro Rubido, the national security commissioner.
Angel Aguirre, governor of Guerrero said last week that the majority of police in his state have been co-opted or infiltrated by organised crime. Angel Aguirre, the governor of Guerrero said last week that the majority of police in his state had been co-opted or infiltrated by organised crime.
Former anti-drug prosecutor Samuel Gonzalez said it was possible that traffickers suspected the students were sent by a rival drug gang. Samuel Gonzalez, a former anti-drug prosecutor, said it was possible that traffickers suspected the students had been sent by a rival drug gang. Manuel Martinez, a spokesman for the students’ families, denied they had any links to organised crime.
Manuel Martinez, spokesman for the students’ families, denied they had any links to organised crime. The Ayotzinapa school has long been an ally of community police in the nearby town of Tixtla, and Martinez said that, along with the teachers’ union and the students, it had formed a broad front to expel cartel extortionists from the area last year.
But the Ayotzinapa school has long been an ally of community police in the nearby town of Tixtla, and Martinez said that, along with the teachers’ union and the students, it had formed a broad front to expel cartel extortionists from the area last year.
Authorities have presented charges against 29 people. Three suspects are fugitives, including Iguala’s police chief.Authorities have presented charges against 29 people. Three suspects are fugitives, including Iguala’s police chief.
Parts of Guerrero are controlled by vigilante-style community police forces, some believed to have ties to leftist guerrilla movements. Drug traffickers sometimes form their own pseudo-vigilante groups, and the state is torn by ancestral land conflicts, illegal logging and mining interests that create a powder keg for potential conflict.Parts of Guerrero are controlled by vigilante-style community police forces, some believed to have ties to leftist guerrilla movements. Drug traffickers sometimes form their own pseudo-vigilante groups, and the state is torn by ancestral land conflicts, illegal logging and mining interests that create a powder keg for potential conflict.
The mother of 17-year-old Luis Angel Abarca Carrillo said he had enrolled in the Ayotzinapa school to get ahead in life and not be a poor farmer like his brothers.The mother of 17-year-old Luis Angel Abarca Carrillo said he had enrolled in the Ayotzinapa school to get ahead in life and not be a poor farmer like his brothers.
“But now look what they did to him,” said Margarita Carrillo, 60. “He hasn’t reappeared.”“But now look what they did to him,” said Margarita Carrillo, 60. “He hasn’t reappeared.”