Eleven folks had been killed when an intoxicated man returned to fire-bomb a bar in a Mexican border city, authorities mentioned.
The suspect had earlier been kicked out of the Beer House in San Luis Río Colorado, near the Arizona metropolis of San Luis, for harassing girls.
The blaze erupted at about 1.30am on Saturday, Mexican officers mentioned. The victims included a 17-year-old, an American lady, and a number of other members of a music group who had been enjoying within the bar, state lawyer basic Gustavo Rómulo Salas Chávez instructed reporters on Sunday.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday and is being interrogated by police.
Six folks had been handled in hospital for accidents sustained within the hearth. Three had been transferred to Arizona for therapy, and one stays in hospital, the lawyer basic mentioned.
The suspect had arrived on the bar at about midnight on Saturday earlier than being eliminated at about 1.20am by safety employees for drunkenly harassing feminine patrons, Mr Salas Chávez mentioned.
“According to versions (from) several witnesses, the person with a young, male appearance was disrespecting women in that bar and was expelled,” in response to an English translation of an announcement from the lawyer basic’s workplace.
Security cameras confirmed the suspect allegedly back-up his pickup truck to the bar entrance, took out gasoline and pour it across the entrance, the lawyer basic mentioned. He then used a blowtorch to ignite the hearth.
Eleven folks died when a bar was deliberately burned within the city of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora state, Mexico on July 22, 2023
(La Tremenda Cosa/AFP by way of Getty )
The suspect has not been recognized. The alleged arson is just not believed to be linked to an extortion try, Mr Salas Chávez mentioned.
Footage shared by the San Luis Rio Colorado volunteer firefighter brigade exhibits the bar engulfed in flames as emergency responders attempt to tamp down the flames.
In latest years, Mexico has suffered dozens of deaths in arson assaults at leisure amenities linked to the drug cartel wars.
In 2019, 27 folks had been killed within the Mexican state of Veracruz after assailants locked a nightclub doorways and set hearth to the constructing.
And in 2011, 52 folks had been killed when gunmen linked to the Zetas cartel set hearth to a on line casino within the metropolis of Monterrey.