Mexico: Armed attack leaves two tourists injured in Playa del Carmen Aug. 14

Event

An armed attack in a Playa del Carmen tourist area seriously injured two tourists, including one foreign national, late Aug. 14. The tourists were inside a local bar, The Roof, located on 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida) between Calle 4 and Calle 6. The police have confirmed that two arrests were made.

Both tourists were shot multiple times and were hospitalized; one is in critical condition. Local media sources suggest that the incident was a targeted attack. The nationality of the foreign visitor remains unclear.

Context

Foreign nationals are rarely the victims of drug-related violence in Quintana Roo State, where major drug-trafficking organizations (DTOs) maintain a lower profile than they do in many other places in Mexico. However, violence does still occur in the area, including in areas frequently visited by tourists. In January, a shooting at Hotel Xcaret in Playa del Carmen killed a tourist and wounded two others, all of Canadian nationality. Most violence in the state is linked to DTOs.