A 32-year-old Canadian woman has been killed and 13 people injured after a man opened fire at a historical site in Mexico, according to Mexican officials. The gunman killed himself after the attack. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has expressed her solidarity with the victims of a shooting at one of the country's most important tourist destinations, the ancient pyramid complex of Teotihuacán.
It comes with seven weeks to go before the first match of the FIFA World Cup is held in Mexico City. There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out, a British couple told the BBC, describing chaotic scenes amid the sound of gunfire.
Local prosecutors identified the shooter as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a Mexican national, without providing further details in a post on X. In a separate post, the Mexican government's security cabinet said 13 people, whose ages range from six to 61, had been treated in hospital after being injured in the incident. The pre-Hispanic pyramids and ruins at Teotihuacán are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
Police recovered a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene. Sheinbaum said she was following updates and was in touch with the Canadian embassy. She wrote on social media that she had instructed her security cabinet to investigate the incident and provide all necessary support. What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families, she wrote in Spanish.
Canada's foreign minister, Anita Anand, confirmed a Canadian was killed and another wounded in the incident. She said Canadian consular officials were providing assistance. The BBC has contacted the Canadian government for more information.
State Security Secretary Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo told reporters that two Colombians, a Russian, and a Canadian were among those injured. According to a witness, a young boy was shot in the leg during the attack, which began around 11:00 local time on Monday. They added that the gunman was on the temple's mezzanine and appeared to fire most shots into the air while carrying a digital tablet and shouting.
In Mexico on holiday, a British couple from London, who did not want to be named, were taking a photo of the Pyramid of the Sun when they saw people start running towards them and shouting about a gunman. Gunfire was becoming louder and more frequent and people around us felt the same, because a couple of people shouted things like, 'They're coming this way,' which created quite a lot of panic, they told the BBC.
The couple persuaded their tour group to make their way to an exit, despite some confusion as to what was unfolding. They added they were not subject to any security checks when entering the site, despite having a backpack with them.
The Teotihuacán is an ancient city, home to massive pyramids, and predates the Aztecs. It will be the site of an immersive nighttime show for tourists during the World Cup this summer, the Mexico state government announced earlier this month. Despite the widespread cartel violence in Mexico, such incidents involving tourists are rare.
It comes with seven weeks to go before the first match of the FIFA World Cup is held in Mexico City. There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out, a British couple told the BBC, describing chaotic scenes amid the sound of gunfire.
Local prosecutors identified the shooter as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a Mexican national, without providing further details in a post on X. In a separate post, the Mexican government's security cabinet said 13 people, whose ages range from six to 61, had been treated in hospital after being injured in the incident. The pre-Hispanic pyramids and ruins at Teotihuacán are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
Police recovered a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene. Sheinbaum said she was following updates and was in touch with the Canadian embassy. She wrote on social media that she had instructed her security cabinet to investigate the incident and provide all necessary support. What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families, she wrote in Spanish.
Canada's foreign minister, Anita Anand, confirmed a Canadian was killed and another wounded in the incident. She said Canadian consular officials were providing assistance. The BBC has contacted the Canadian government for more information.
State Security Secretary Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo told reporters that two Colombians, a Russian, and a Canadian were among those injured. According to a witness, a young boy was shot in the leg during the attack, which began around 11:00 local time on Monday. They added that the gunman was on the temple's mezzanine and appeared to fire most shots into the air while carrying a digital tablet and shouting.
In Mexico on holiday, a British couple from London, who did not want to be named, were taking a photo of the Pyramid of the Sun when they saw people start running towards them and shouting about a gunman. Gunfire was becoming louder and more frequent and people around us felt the same, because a couple of people shouted things like, 'They're coming this way,' which created quite a lot of panic, they told the BBC.
The couple persuaded their tour group to make their way to an exit, despite some confusion as to what was unfolding. They added they were not subject to any security checks when entering the site, despite having a backpack with them.
The Teotihuacán is an ancient city, home to massive pyramids, and predates the Aztecs. It will be the site of an immersive nighttime show for tourists during the World Cup this summer, the Mexico state government announced earlier this month. Despite the widespread cartel violence in Mexico, such incidents involving tourists are rare.
