Thread: VIDEO: 7 killed in Mexico Independence Day grenade attackâ€

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1lDFWy ... s&ie=UTF-8



7 killed in Mexico Independence Day grenade attack
By TRACI CARL – 20 hours ago

MORELIA, Mexico (AP) — Assailants threw two grenades into a huge crowd of Independence Day revelers, killing seven and injuring more than 100 in a brazen attack that escalates the war between Mexico's army and drug gangs.

The military fragmentation grenades shattered a family-friendly gathering of thousands in the cobblestone streets not far from where President Felipe Calderon grew up. He pledged an immediate military response Tuesday and urged Mexicans not to be afraid.

However, in a country increasingly terrified and outraged by both drug violence and common crime, the attack drove home a tragic message: No place is safe.

"These illegal acts were clearly attacking our national security, committed by true traitors who have no respect for others or for the country," Calderon said. "Those who believe they can use fear to hold our society hostage and immobilize us are mistaken. ... They are doomed to fail."

Since taking office in 2006, Calderon has sent more than 25,000 soldiers to confront the cartels that move marijuana and cocaine into the United States, and the gangs have responded with daytime shootouts, assassinations, beheadings and massacres. Michoacan state, which is home to Morelia, has seen more than its share of this violence.

The latest came during the traditional "grito," or shout for independence, late Monday night. Michoacan Gov. Leonel Godoy had just finished shouting "Viva Mexico!" from a balcony, when the two grenades exploded simultaneously in the crowd, blocks apart.

At first, the throngs of families thought the explosions were part of the fireworks display. Then thick, black smoke rose from the crowd, people started screaming and the cathedral's bells fell silent. As the crowd cleared, rescuers attended to the wounded and dead.

Both state emergency officials and state prosecutors said seven were killed, although there were earlier reports that the death toll had risen to eight.

Godoy, who was unhurt, said witnesses saw a heavyset man wearing black throw one of the grenades, then beg forgiveness for what he had done. But he provided no more details, and there were no immediate claims of responsibility. Authorities made no arrests.

"Without a doubt, we believe this was done by organized crime," he said. The governor's office later said he was traveling to Mexico City late Tuesday to meet with Calderon.

The attack targeted a cherished tradition that brings millions of Mexicans together in public plazas each year, and cast an immediate pall over Tuesday's parades, held in cities and towns across the nation to celebrate the 1810 start of Mexico's 10-year war of independence from Spain.

Godoy canceled Tuesday's march in Morelia after his office received threats, "because there are children, women and innocent people who have been hurt." But parades went on elsewhere, including the traditional military show of force in Mexico City.

Eunice Arevalo, 23, attended that parade with 10 other family members, but she said she was fearful for Mexico's future.

"This is not going to stop. This is only going to get worse," said Arevalo, a cooking student whose father is a soldier. "So far the killers have targeted other drug traffickers, but now it seems we're going to see still more violent acts against everyday citizens, just to shock people."

Calderon urged Mexicans to stand up to the cartel threat, appealing to their patriotism.
"The Mexican people, especially on this important date, should remain united in the face of those who want to divide us," the president said.

A week after nationwide marches designed to symbolically retake the streets from criminals, many echoed his defiance.
"Mexico is ours. We won't hide. We are going to go out and take back our streets," said lawyer Juan Enrique Arguijo, 46.

Morelia remained under heavy guard, with soldiers and federal, state and local police manning checkpoints on surrounding highways. Seventy-five injured were hospitalized, civil protection officials said.

Meanwhile, families mourned the dead. Isabel Sanchez said her brother Alfredo Sanchez was about to retire as a metalworker after surviving a stroke. He was killed amid the crowd as his wife parked the car.

"My brother was fighting to live," she said. "We are tired of living like this. ... I don't understand why my brother died."

The attack comes only days after 24 bodies were found bound and killed execution-style in a rural area outside Mexico City in one of the largest massacres in recent history.

Associated Press writers Julie Watson and Isaac Garrido contributed to this report from Mexico City.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hrQN ... QD9385BMO0

More VIDEOS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Co5e6yWnw

In this video you can actualy hear the first explosion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFBin4_KAv4

The scene after the explosions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BO3WnFLQRc

Question: What would crime cartels have to gain or lose by doing this?

What would the Mexican government gain or lose from this.

Wouldn't grenades going off in crowds of innocent Mexican citizens and being pinned on drug cartel factions be bad for the syndicates and good for the government?

It makes no sense to think that the crime cartels would do this and intentionally demonize themselves.

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Question: What would crime cartels have to gain or lose by doing this?

What would the Mexican government gain or lose from this.

Wouldn't grenades going off in crowds of innocent Mexican citizens and being pinned on drug cartel factions be bad for the syndicates and good for the government?

It makes no sense to think that the crime cartels would do this and intentionally demonize themselves.

W

These terrorist acts were commited by rebels. The fact that it was done seconds from the Governor of Michoacan declaring Mexican Independance Day was ment as an attack against the government.
Drug cartels don't have anything to gain from this.

Originally Posted by LawEnforcer

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Question: What would crime cartels have to gain or lose by doing this?

What would the Mexican government gain or lose from this.

Wouldn't grenades going off in crowds of innocent Mexican citizens and being pinned on drug cartel factions be bad for the syndicates and good for the government?

It makes no sense to think that the crime cartels would do this and intentionally demonize themselves.

W

These terrorist acts were commited by rebels. The fact that it was done seconds from the Governor of Michoacan declaring Mexican Independance Day was ment as an attack against the government.
Drug cartels don't have anything to gain from this.

Just a idear.....but what if the Mexican government did this to make it look like the drug cartels did it.This would help the Mexican government fire up the people to help fight the cartels .

Originally Posted by Gaz

Originally Posted by LawEnforcer

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Question: What would crime cartels have to gain or lose by doing this?

What would the Mexican government gain or lose from this.

Wouldn't grenades going off in crowds of innocent Mexican citizens and being pinned on drug cartel factions be bad for the syndicates and good for the government?

It makes no sense to think that the crime cartels would do this and intentionally demonize themselves.

W

These terrorist acts were commited by rebels. The fact that it was done seconds from the Governor of Michoacan declaring Mexican Independance Day was ment as an attack against the government.
Drug cartels don't have anything to gain from this.

Just a idear.....but what if the Mexican government did this to make it look like the drug cartels did it.This would help the Mexican government fire up the people to help fight the cartels .

I guarantee that that theory will be talked about in Mexico and people will either be Pro-Government or Anti-Government. The polarization will increase. All the ingredients for a civil war.

"These illegal acts were clearly attacking our national security, committed by true traitors who have no respect for others or for the country," Calderon said. "Those who believe they can use fear to hold our society hostage and immobilize us are mistaken. ... They are doomed to fail."

Oh pleeze Calderon! Who is he trying to kid? Those "illegal acts" were caused by Mexico's own unruly corrupt crowd of citizens. And what praytel does he mean when he says "attacking our national security"? I didnt think he understood the concept of "national security". Afterall, Calderon encourages illegal aliens to come here and destroy what is left of our national security. Calderon, no one can possibly OR WANTS TO "hold your society hostage", "immobilize" maybe, "hostage" nah.