At least 12 taxi drivers murdered during weekend violence in Acapulco, Mexico

At least 12 taxi drivers murdered during weekend violence in Acapulco, Mexico

2011-02-21 12:08:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- At least 12 taxi drivers were murdered during the weekend in Mexico's touristic coastal city of Acapulco, Guerrero, officials said Sunday.

On Friday, five taxi drivers were found dead in or around their vehicles, and on Saturday, one driver was found dead and tied to his taxi with several gunshot wounds. Later that evening, two others were found shot dead inside their vehicles, one of them being decapitated.

In a separate incident, a group of gunmen opened fire against another taxi cab, killing the driver and three passengers.

The killing spree continued into Sunday, and reached the touristic areas of Acapulco. Five vehicles were set on fire and a chopped up body was later discovered in an apartment building

Acapulco's increasing violence is getting worse, just hours before the upcoming ATP's Mexican Open - which is one of Latin America's most important and largest international tennis tournaments.

State officials said four suspects were detained. During their arrest, authorities seized several firing weapons, a grenade, and a machete, which could have been used for decapitating their victims.

Furthermore, the ATP warned players to arrive with as late as possible and to leave immediately after being eliminated. In addition, it told its players to stay as close as possible to the hotel's facilities.

Taxi drivers in Acapulco are being recruited by regional organized crime groups in order for them to become the groups' informants.

As violence has been sweeping through several parts of Mexico, at least 10 people were killed in Acapulco during the last week. Among the dozens killed during the previous weeks were the recently 15 decapitated bodies found in January.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-21