Monday’s shooting at the Teotihuacán archaeological site, 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, in which a Canadian tourist was killed, has prompted the government to implement enhanced security at some of the country’s main tourist sites.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Tuesday increased security checks and a greater National Guard presence at several sites, with long-term plans to install security checkpoints at entrances to prevent firearms from being brought in.
“It takes time to install X-ray scanners to check for entry,” Sheinbaum said. “It doesn’t happen overnight, but this serves as a reminder that we need greater security to prevent someone from entering an archaeological site or tourist site with a firearm.”
Several new security measures have already been announced at Mexico’s main archaeological sites, with more expected to follow through the week:
- The Teotihuacán archaeological site officially reopened on Wednesday with a reinforced security protocol, but the Pyramid of the Moon remains closed to the public. Increased surveillance will be carried out by the National Guard and law enforcement agencies from all three levels of government.
- At Mexico’s most-visited archaeological site, Chichen Itzá, in the state of Yucatan, backpacks have been temporarily banned. The site’s director, María Guadalupe Espinosa, said the ban will be in place for the next few days.
- National Guard officials have been deployed at the state of Oaxaca’s main archaeological sites of Mitla, Monte Alban and Yagul, as well as in the town of Atzompa. Visitors’ bags are being inspected upon entry. For now, National Guard personnel will still not be able to bring weapons into the site itself.
With reports from La Jornada Hidalgo, Quintana Roo Quadratin, Diario Marca, and Diario de Xalapa
