5 musicians murdered in suspected Mexican cartel killing

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0944/live/11e31040-3ceb-11f0-a5a4-490bab7488a9.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters The Rio Grande river - near the Mexican city of Reynosa near the US border - is seen behind blurred spikes of barbed wire. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters The musicians have been final seen within the Mexican metropolis of Reynosa, close to the US border

5 musicians who disappeared within the Mexican metropolis of Reynosa, close to the US border, have been murdered by suspected drug cartel members, Mexican authorities have stated.

9 alleged members of the infamous Gulf Cartel have been arrested on suspicion of homicide, in accordance with Irving Barrios Mojica, lawyer common for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

The musicians - generally known as Grupo Fugitivo - have been kidnapped whereas travelling to a personal occasion on 25 Might, Barrios Mojica stated. Quickly after, their family members reported receiving ransom calls for.

Investigators are working to ascertain a motive for the killings.

The musicians have been aged between 20 and 40, and sometimes performed at native events and dances.

9 firearms and two automobiles have been additionally seized throughout the arrests.

Grupo Fugitivo carried out a variety of regional Mexican music, a style which incorporates corridos - songs which have traditionally been used to pay homage to drug cartels and their leaders.

It's not instantly clear if the group was focused due to their music, or have been caught up within the violence that has lengthy beset Tamaulipas, the place the Gulf Cartel has a robust presence.

The Trump administration has designated the Gulf Cartel, alongside a number of different felony teams, a "world terrorist organisation".

In January, the US embassy in Mexico issued a stage 4 journey advisory, the very best stage, warning its residents to not journey to a number of Mexican cities, together with Reynosa.

It cited the chance of "crime and kidnapping" and "more and more frequent gun battles occurring in and round" the town.

"Closely armed members of felony teams typically patrol areas of the state and function with impunity significantly alongside the border area from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo," the US state division stated.