Mexico's government has announced a major security boost at tourist sites following a shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids that killed a Canadian tourist and injured a dozen others, less than two months before the country co-hosts the Fifa World Cup.
The incident, described by President Claudia Sheinbaum as an isolated event, occurred on Monday when a lone gunman opened fire on visitors at the UNESCO World Heritage site near Mexico City. Sheinbaum acknowledged that the archaeological site lacked adequate security filters and suggested the shooter may have been influenced by the 1999 Columbine massacre.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said on Tuesday that forces have been instructed to immediately strengthen security at archaeological sites and major tourist destinations nationwide, increasing National Guard presence, enhancing checks, and fortifying surveillance to identify and prevent threats.
The shooting has raised questions about security protocols ahead of the World Cup, which Mexico will host with the United States and Canada. The government has pledged to deploy 100,000 security forces across the country, focusing on host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, using over 2,000 military vehicles, aircraft, and drones.
President Sheinbaum has assured there will be no risk for fans, a view echoed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino. However, security analyst David Saucedo warned that such events undermine the government's narrative of safety, particularly after a surge of cartel violence in Guadalajara in February.
