San Diego

Thieves stabbed and killed one undocumented man and injured at least two others during an early-morning robbery spree Wednesday along the U.S.-Mexico border, police said.

The attacks took place near the southern levee of the Tijuana River, a popular illicit international crossing zone, police said. Among those injured was one migrant who was stabbed but survived and was hospitalized in serious condition.

The assaults occurred at a time when San Diego police have bolstered patrols in the hazardous border strip in response to what authorities say is rising crime, particularly in the rugged area west of the port of entry at San Ysidro.

Robbers have long preyed on the hundreds of migrants who each day attempt to enter the United States without inspection by traveling across the rugged border terrain.

The man killed Wednesday was at least the seventh person murdered by suspected thieves in the border zone in San Diego during 1990, according to police figures. There were five such killings during all of 1989.

The dead man was identified as Alejandro Soto Moreno, 25. His nationality and other details about him were not available.

Police said he was among a group of up to 20 undocumented immigrants who were attacked by three male robbers at about 12:30 a.m. The migrants had gathered along a hilltop near the southern levee of the Tijuana River, at a spot about two miles to the west of the San Ysidro border crossing and about 20 feet north of the international boundary, according to police.

The assailants brandished knives and clubs, said Bill Robinson, a police spokesman.

The other stabbing victim was identified only as Miguel Munoz. He was listed in serious condition at UC San Diego Medical Center.

A third victim, whose name was not available, was treated at the scene for minor injuries, police said.

No suspects were in custody, police said.