Violence in Nuevo Laredo Alarms U.S. Ambassador
The United States is closing its consulate in this border city for a week in the wake of a shootout in which assailants used machine guns, grenades and a rocket launcher to attack a home, the U.S. ambassador said Friday.
In a statement from Mexico City, Ambassador Tony Garza said that “in light of this alarming incident and continued violence along the border, I have decided to suspend all operations except for emergency services for American citizens” for one week beginning Aug. 1.
He said temporarily closing the consulate would allow officials to “assess the security situation for our employees, American travelers to the region and visitors to the consulate,” and that during that time, “we will be gauging what should be a swift and certain response from the government of Mexico to bring this situation under control.”
A group of armed men in several vehicles attacked the home late Thursday. People inside are believed to have returned fire with powerful weapons.
No one was injured and no arrests were made. It was unclear why the home was targeted, but witnesses said it was a safe house used by drug smugglers.
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