Two days earlier than the World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa, large protest actions have put safety forces within the host metropolis of Mexico Metropolis on excessive alert.
Police found a complete of 59 explosive gadgets on a bus carrying arriving demonstrators. The Inside Ministry confirmed this just below 48 hours earlier than the opening match on the legendary Azteca Stadium.
Mexico’s Deputy Inside Minister Arturo Medina made it clear: “We assist peaceable demonstrations, however the public should not be put in danger by means of explosive gadgets throughout protests.”
Radical members of the CNTE academics’ union have been protesting for a number of days towards the controversial pension reform. They’re demanding that the choice be reversed, blocking main roads within the Mexican metropolis, and have arrange a tent camp within the capital’s historic middle.
📸 LUIS CORTES – AFP or licensors
President Claudia Sheinbaum has to date relied on de-escalation and is rejecting a hard-line response shortly earlier than the match. However the scenario stays extraordinarily tense. It’s not solely academics’ representatives who’re protesting: family of round 130,000 folks thought of lacking in Mexico additionally wish to use the World Cup’s large highlight. As well as, farmers and truck drivers have additionally introduced protests and street blockades. Shortly earlier than kickoff, the capital is dealing with the specter of large visitors and safety chaos.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.