Reinforced security in the heart of the capital
The Angel of Independence and Paseo de la Reforma woke up on Sunday under an unprecedented security operation. Thousands of police and mayoral officials guarded the area prior to the World Cup round of 16 match between Mexico and England.
The measure responds to the death of four fans that occurred five days earlier, during the massive celebrations for Mexico’s victory against Ecuador. The capital authorities doubled the number of agents: 6,000 in Reforma —double than in the previous game—, 7,500 in the Azteca Stadium and 3,300 in the Zócalo.
Early on, hundreds of fans wearing green t-shirts and Mexican flags entered the area after security checks. Among them, the students Daniela Oliveros, 22, and Christopher Pino, 18, arrived from Chilpancingo, Guerrero.
“It’s going to be good,” said Pino, confident of victory. Oliveros was more cautious: “No matter what happens, we are going to be with the national team.”
Both supported the deployment. “I hope people behave well,” Pino said.
The events that motivated the operation
On the night of June 30, three people died from asphyxiation in the streets near Reforma: two women aged 19 and 44 and a man aged 48. In addition, a 35-year-old fan died in the hospital from cardiorespiratory arrest after suffering epilepsy and digestive bleeding. The capital’s Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the four deaths.
