Gunmen have recently shot at the office building of the respected Mexican newspaper El Debate in Culiacan, Sinaloa. The attack, which took place on Friday, saw the building being sprayed with gunfire and several cars outside being damaged. Despite the violence, no one was injured in the incident.
The shooting is believed to be part of the ongoing battle between rival gangs of the Sinaloa Cartel in the state capital of Culiacan. El Debate has been actively reporting on the gang violence that has been plaguing the region since September.
Journalists in the area have reported being threatened by gunmen and prevented from covering the ongoing gun battles happening 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 be informed.
Being a journalist in Mexico is a dangerous profession, with Reporters Without Borders documenting the deaths and disappearances of dozens of reporters in the country in the past six years. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned the attack on El Debate and has sent military personnel to Sinaloa in an effort to protect the population from the escalating violence.
Despite the government’s efforts, the troops have struggled to contain the violence in the region. The attack on El Debate serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in Mexico and the challenges they encounter in reporting on criminal activities.
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