Police in Mexico have arrested a man they accuse of being the mastermind behind the murder of a popular mayor. Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan, was shot dead on 1 November at a public event marking the Day of the Dead.
Manzo was an outspoken critic of cartel violence in his home state of Michoacán and his assassination triggered mass protests.
Mexico's security minister said the man suspected of ordering his murder had links to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
This arrest represents a key step in dismantling the criminal structure responsible for this attack, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said.
He did not say what the possible motive of the attack may have been, but local officials in Mexico are often targeted by criminal gangs for failing to do their bidding.
García Harfuch stated that Jorge Amando, known as The Graduate, had communicated with those who carried out the killing via WhatsApp. He allegedly pressured his men to open fire on Manzo even when he was surrounded by people.
The 40-year-old mayor was attending a Day of the Dead ceremony alongside his relatives when he was shot seven times, sending bystanders running for cover.
Manzo had publicly denounced how avocado growers in the region were being extorted and threatened by criminal groups, and he had called on the federal government to take stronger action against cartels.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which Mexico's security minister blamed for the attack, is involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion. It is notorious for targeting public officials who refuse to cooperate.
The assassination of Manzo sparked mass protests, with many carrying placards featuring his photo and banners proclaiming 'we are all Carlos Manzo'. Protests escalated in Mexico City, where clashes with police occurred.
