Monday 15 August 2022 05:55 PM Mexico president urges 'calm' after weekend of violence sparked by cartel ... trends now
Cartel leaders in Mexico's border towns set up roadbloacks, hijarcked and torched more than two dozen vehicles in a weekend of chaos where the United States warned citizens in the country to shelter in place.
The violence unfolded across the Pacific coast state of Baja California as the country's most powerful cartel sought the release of one of its high ranking leaders. Chaos unfolded in the cities of Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada and Tecate.
Mexico President André Manuel López Obrador is now trying to reassure residents that there is calm in the wake of the violence.
'I want to tell the people of Mexico to be calm, that there is governability, there is stability,' López Obrador said during Monday's press briefing at the National Palace in Mexico City.
The leftist leader minimized the wave of attacks in Baja California and previously in the central state of Guanajuato, saying it was an interest of our adversaries, the conservatives, to magnify things, to do tabloid, sensational journalism.'
López Obrador said a full report would be released Monday at noon to provide an update on casualty and arrest figures.
Last Tuesday's arrest of Ricardo Ruiz, a high-ranking leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, fueled a series of attacks across three states, including Baja California where over two dozen vehicles were set on fire during the weekend
Still image from a video recorded by a motorist shows the moment a bus is set on fire in Baja California during the weekend
Mexican security forces stand guard at Tijuana International Airport on Saturday in response to a wave of attacks launched by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel
At least one person - a bus driver - was injured during an attack in Mexicali.
At least 17 people had been apprehended in connection to the road blockades and vehicle burnings that took place in Tijuana, Mexicali and Ensenada on Friday, according to Baja California state security department.
Three of the suspects - including a woman - were identified as members of the Jalisco New
