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(CNN Spanish) - Clashes between the Nuevo Laredo police and several organized crime groups, which have so far left seven dead and five injured, occur as a response to security operations deployed by the authorities to control criminal activity, the spokesman for the state security department of Tamaulipas told CNN.
In an interview with Perspectivas México on CNN, on Thursday, Luis Rodríguez explained that government operations began in August 2019 in Nuevo Laredo and other border cities. Rodriguez reported that after launching the plan to control crime, there were attacks on the police by criminal groups. A police officer died in those attacks, Rodriguez said.
Since Tuesday, December 31, the Nuevo Laredo police have been attacked again.
Several criminals assaulted a group of police officers who had been deployed in different parts of the city. The agents responded to the attack that triggered a persecution in which three members of the criminal group were killed and a policeman was injured.
On Wednesday, two more attacks on police officers were recorded. Armed groups attacked the hotel where agents were staying in Nuevo Laredo and the local hospital where one of the police officers injured in a previous attack was recovering. Three civilians died and two were injured. In addition, two police officers were also injured in the attack, Rodríguez said.
On Thursday, a policeman died and another was injured on the third consecutive day of attacks by criminals on police in Nuevo Laredo.
The spokesman for the Security Secretariat stressed that operations against organized crime will continue to be supported by federal authorities.
This Thursday, the US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo issued a new security alert for "reports of ongoing violence and blockages on the main roads of Nuevo Laredo." Through Twitter, the consulate reported that diplomatic headquarters personnel "are still subject to greater restrictions on their movements." They also asked citizens to "avoid the area."
The alert advises US government personnel. in the area avoid public places, contact family and friends to inform them of their safety and monitor local media for updates.
This alert is the second issued by the US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo in the last 48 hours since gunfights were reported between members of the Northeast Cartel and the security forces.
Fidel Gutiérrez in Mexico City contributed to this report
Nuevo Laredo
