Mexican Political Advisor Is Beaten, Burned Alive by Angry Mob of More Than 200 Villagers in Mexico

A former Mexican political advisor was beaten and burned alive by an angry mob of more than 200 villagers in Mexico in a case of mistaken identity.

According to Daily Mail, Daniel Picazo was visiting his grandfather's home in Huauchinango town in Puebla state when about 30 people cornered him near the residence.

The villagers falsely accused the 31-year-old former advisor of the National Action Party of child trafficking. Mexican network TV Azteca reported that Picazo, a lawyer and an adviser to a lawmaker in the State of Mexico, was accused of kidnapping a child after false rumors spread in chat rooms on WhatsApp.

Picazo was with a male individual who managed to escape and hide in a nearby building. The angry mob attacked both men after forcing them out of Picazo's pickup truck.

The villagers then dragged the former Mexican political advisor to a local park, where the police attempted to rescue him and put him in a patrol car, but the angry mob outmatched them. Picazo was attacked once again in the field and was doused with gasoline while he was still alive.

The former political advisor's parents told Radio Formula that their son was walking down the street with his hands tied behind his back and burns to his body before he got on his knees and begged for help.

In a statement, the Huauchinango City Council said it strongly disapproves of this act and maintains that criminal behavior must be judged under the procedures of the rule of law.

Former Mexican Political Advisor Falsely Accused of Child Trafficking by Villagers in Mexico

According to El Pais, around 30 locals took part in the attack while another 200 stood by and watched. Daniel Picazo's sister posted a message on Twitter after his death, saying that her brother was a professional "who loved travel and life."

She then went on to say that she was "disgusted" at the people responsible for killing Picazo. She added that her brother was "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Police and health workers rushed to the site. However, the angry mob had hindered them from reaching the former Mexican political advisor.

Picazo has worked for the Chamber of Deputies' Justice Commission from 2018 to 2021. He was hired as an advisor to National Action Party Congresswoman Johana Felipe towards the end of 2021. He left her office in March.

Puebla authorities had made no arrests as of Monday evening for the death of Daniel Picazo.

Lynching in Mexico

The Huachinango municipality said that "this is not justice, but barbarism," adding that authorities are already leading the probe to determine responsibility.

The municipality posted a statement on Facebook on Sunday, advising people not to fall for the fake information and be sure to verify all types of information being spread through any media.

Mob justice or lynching is not uncommon in parts of Mexico. According to CBS News, seven people were beaten and burned alive also in Puebla in 2019.

In 2018, two men were burned to death in Puebla after rumors had spread on WhatsApp that they were child abductors, which turned out to be false later on.

Jose Gil, the deputy minister for Information and Cyber Intelligence in Mexico City, said social media plays a role in many crimes. Gil noted that it could alter a community by spreading false information that many perceive as truthful.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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