Mexico: 4 Journalists Shot in What Police Consider as 'Attempted Murder' as Attacks on Journalists Increase

There had been a spate of attacks on journalists in Mexico. In the southern Mexican city of Chilpancingo, four news photographers just survived an attack from several armed men.

All four journalists managed to survive, but all of them still had to be taken to a hospital to have their injuries treated. However, local authorities did not confirm whether or not their injuries were serious, though all four are expected to survive.

According to the Associated Press, these four news photographers all worked either for local newspapers or local news sites. State prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack as they consider it a case of "attempted murder."

Press freedom advocacy group, Reporters Without Borders, revealed that the attack happened just outside the local army barracks. The four journalists were just returning after covering an event when they were shot at.

Chilpancingo is a city found on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, specifically in Guerrero State, which has seen a rise in deadly turf battles between local drug gangs and the big drug cartels. It was once the turf of the once-powerful Zetas drug cartel, which has since splintered off into several local drug gangs, all vying for power.

This is the latest attack on journalists in Mexico, as the country is now one of the deadliest countries for journalists outside of an active warzone. In the last five years alone, 54 journalists have already been killed in Mexico, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Three Journalists Abducted in Guerrero State, Mexico Recently Freed

Just recently, other journalists in Guerrero State had a different life-threatening experience of their own as they were recently abducted and released. While reporters Silvia Nayssa Arce, Alberto Sanchez, and Marco Antonio Toledo were all released unharmed, the three journalists still had a harrowing experience from the ordeal.

Marco Antonio Toledo is the editor of the weekly newspaper El Espectador. He was kidnapped by armed men on November 19 in Taxco, Guerrero. Meanwhile, Silvia Nayssa Arce and Alberto Sanchez worked for the digital media site RedSiete. They all worked from their offices in Taxco when they were abducted.

Toledo's wife, Guadalupe Denova, was also freed, but their son, who was also kidnapped, is still missing, according to Al Jazeera News. The Mexican Army, police, and National Guard have vowed that they will "continue with search operations" for him.

Another Journalist Found Dead Inside Car in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Earlier this month, the body of news photographer Ismael Villagómez was found in the driver's seat of a car in Ciudad Juarez, which is just across the border from El Paso, Texas.

CBS News reported that the car he was found in was registered to a ride-hailing app, and the victim was reportedly working as a driver on the side because of the low income journalists have in Mexico. His phone was not found with him.

Ciudad Juarez is home to multiple competing drug gangs that do not just vie for supremacy in the city but also control of drug smuggling and human trafficking routes.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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