FBI reports kidnapping of four Americans in northern Mexico, offers $50,000 reward
The FBI has reported the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, and has offered a US$50,000 reward (about €47,000) to try to obtain information about this case.
The raid took place on Friday, after the group of Americans had arrived in the village of Matamoros With a vehicle with South Carolina license plates. “Shortly after” crossing the border, the van was ambushed by “unidentified gunmen.”the FBI explained in a statement.
The four Americans were transferred to a second vehicle and subsequently evacuated, according to the official note. The U.S. authorities are now looking for clues to to find the whereabouts of these people and have promised to keep any possible collaborators anonymous.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed the incident at a press conference and explained that. “it is already being taken care of” by the government.. Pending the progress of the investigations, he explained at a press conference that the hostages had arrived in Mexican territory to buy medicines and “there was a confrontation between groups”.according to the newspaper ‘El Universal’.
The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros also issued on Friday a security alert for violent incidents. and reminded that all of Tamaulipas is classified as level four, so that travel to this state is discouraged.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, issued a statement in which he affirmed that “officials from various U.S. law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return” of the victims. “We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens. This is the most fundamental role of the U.S. government,” he said.
