5 police officers shot dead in Mexico as World Cup kicks off

Violence marred the eve of the World Cup in Mexico as five police officers were killed and five others wounded in an ambush in the western state of Michoacan. Local authorities reported the attack occurred Wednesday in an Indigenous region plagued by cartel activity.

The officers were traveling in a pickup truck when they were attacked by unknown assailants. Images obtained by AFP showed the vehicle riddled with bullet holes. The Moriela Police Department identified the slain officers on social media, with the city's former police chief calling for the perpetrators to be arrested and punished.

The attack took place in Nahuatzen, a municipality inhabited by the Purepecha people, where the powerful New Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is known to operate. This incident follows the brazen murder of a small-city mayor in May, allegedly by the CJNG, which sparked protests accusing the state of failing to combat escalating violence.

Despite the violence, Mexico's government maintains that there is no security threat to World Cup fans. Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States. The U.S. Embassy has noted that safety risks in Mexico can vary significantly by region, with each state receiving its own travel advisory from the U.S. State Department.

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The criminals responsible for this attack must be arrested and punished with the full weight of the law.