Gunmen have targeted the offices of the respected Mexican newspaper El Debate in the state capital Culiacan, part of the ongoing drug cartel battles in the region. The attackers fired on the building and damaged several cars outside, but luckily no one was injured in the attack. El Debate has been covering the violent gun battles between rival gangs of the Sinaloa Cartel in the area since September.
Journalists and their sources have been facing increased threats since the outbreak of violence in Culiacan. Some journalists have been stopped by gunmen and prevented from covering the ongoing clashes on the outskirts of the city. The Mexican Media Alliance has condemned the attack on El Debate, calling it a direct assault on press freedom and the public’s right to information.
Reporters Without Borders has highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in Mexico, with 37 reporters killed and five disappeared in the last six years. President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned the attack on El Debate and has sent military personnel to Sinaloa to protect the population. However, the troops have struggled to contain the violence in the region.
The attack on El Debate is a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists in Mexico as they work to report on issues of violence and crime. It serves as a call for greater protection for journalists and for the importance of upholding press freedom in the face of threats and intimidation.
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