Mexico: retaliation feared after slaying of Gulf Cartel kingpin

Image

Urban warfare in Matamoros

Mexican authorities fear retaliatory violence after the killing of Gulf Cartel kingpin Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén AKA "Tony Tormenta" in a three-hour shootout with soldiers in Matamoros. The federal army used 300 grenades in the battle, leaving several local buildings badly damaged. Local homes have since put up signs reading "Por favor—No lanzar granadas" (Please don't throw grenades).

Photo: La Otra División del Norte [3]

Mexican authorities fear retaliatory violence after the killing of Gulf Cartel kingpin Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén AKA "Tony Tormenta" [4] in a three-hour shootout with soldiers in Matamoros, Tamaulipas [5] state, on Nov. 5. Three cartel gunmen, two members of the security forces and a journalist were also killed in the gun-battle. The federal army used 300 grenades in the battle, leaving several local buildings badly damaged. Local homes have since put up signs reading "Por favor—No lanzar granadas" (Please don't throw grenades). Municipal authorities report receiving telephone bomb threats aimed at Matamoros schools. (La Otra División del Norte [3] blog, Matamoros, Nov. 13; AFP [6], Nov. 9)

See our last post on Mexico's narco wars [7].

Please leave a tip [8] or answer the Exit Poll [9].