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Caribbean-Latin America

2 more grenades detonate in Nuevo Laredo, 1 dead -- UPDATED

2013-02-12

For a map, click here. For a map of Tamaulipas state, click here
UPDATED

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Two more grenades were detonated in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Monday evening, -- one near a local college -- killing one unidentified individual late Monday morning, according to twitter reports, government press releases and Mexican news accounts.

A tweet issued by the US Consulate at around said that two explosions were heard, presumably near their offices.

A report released by the Tamaulipas state Procuradura General del Estado (PGE), or attorney general said that grenades were detonated in two separate incidents in the city starting at 1150 hrs.

The first grenade exploded near the intersection of Avenida Alvaro Obregon and Privada I. Tamez, near Johann Gutemberg college, wounding one unidentified woman. Her wounds were originally characterized in the PGE press release as not serious. However, late twitter reports said the victims wounds were labeled as grave. Two sedans also were damaged in the incident.

The unidentified woman who was wounded in the attack later died in the attack.

The second incident took place near the intersection of Avenida Juarez and Calle Bolivar. That incident caused damage to the facade of a business, which subsequently closed. An SUV also was damaged in the incident.

The grenade attacks are the second in a week. An attack took place last Thursday near the US Consulate when two rival gangs exchanged gunfire. Three grenades were detonated, but no one was reported wounded, nor was damage reported. Mexican federal security forces intervened, forcing the armed groups to flee the scene.

The Tamaulipas PGE denied last week's grenade attack even took place.

Getting news from Nuevo Laredo has been problematic. Local drug groups routinely intimidate local and foreign reports into not reporting incidents such as Monday's attacks. Because of the threats and intimidation, local government officials must resort to social media such as Twitter to spread the word about danger zones in the city as they arise.

A tweet released Monday said that bots were being use to suppress reports.

A late tweet posted just two hours before press time reported gunfire in Riveras del Bravo colony on Avenida Ruiz Cortez.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com

Posted by:badanov

#4 as you were, Chris. It's all good. Thanks for your posts

Posted by: Frank G 2013-02-12 20:51

#3 If you noticed, nowhere in the story was it written "the grenades detonated" or "grenades detonated themselves".

Ever wonder why it was written that way?

In Tamaulipas state in Mexico, like a shooting gallery that Nuevo Laredo has become, government officials will not report such incidents as a grenade attack even if they know which drug cartel participated in the attack.

And in Nuevo Laredo attacks such as the two grenade attacks are almost always caused by individuals who throw or will launch grenades at a target, and then disappear. Many times witnesses will either not witness the event or they, like police, will not report on the grenade attack.

I think you should agree if I do not write "grenade detonated" or "the grenade detonated itself", the clear meaning was that someone there caused the grenades to explode. It should be implicit in the story that when a grenade attack takes place, someone probably caused that grenade to detonate. It is especially critical that the reader makes the presumption in this case since it is likely either the attacker was not seen, or was seen and witnesses are too afraid to report what they saw.

I appreciate being shown errors. I usually operate on a deadline and sometimes late at night, or I am just plain too tired to catch something.

But what bothers me is when a grammar Nazi puts forth the effort to point out something said Nazi did not read. It is most irritating since the writer did not write it.

In that case, not only is said Nazi wasting my time as well as his/hers, said Nazi is looking foolish.

So please, pretty please with sugar on top, next time read the f*cking article.

Posted by: badanov 2013-02-12 19:19

#2 Going off by themselves, are they? Usually, they need someone to throw them.

Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226 2013-02-12 12:19

#1 wounding one unidentified individual late Monday morning, according to twitter reports,

Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-02-12 02:39

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