Mexican National Prosecutor Working With the FBI

Monterrey. The Mexican National Prosecutor’s Office (PGR), in coordination with the FBI, took charge of the investigation looking into the attack made yesterday with firearms on the U.S. Consulate in this city.

The Secretary of Public Security of the state of Nuevo Leon, Aldo Fasci Zuazua, said that the participation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (known by its initials as FBI) is due to the fact that the consular office is “technically, United States territory.”

He noted that state authorities began the investigation into the incident, but since it is a federal crime, it was transferred to the PRG and in this case specifically to the FBI.

In an interview, he explained that the state authorities are responsible for the security inside and around the perimeter of the building, which on its far northern property line is adjacent to the Office of the State Prosecutor (PGJE).

“We are working together, and I want to repeat that for many years the state has taken responsibility for the internal security and is not paid a nickel for it. We have SWAT units there, and behind it is the State Prosecutor’s Office,” he remarked.

He noted that the authorities of the municipality of San Pedro Garza García cooperate in the protection of United States personnel as they travel to the local consulate.

“They have been providing an escort for the personnel and since they’re already there – at the Consulate – they help with the security around the perimeter, and the SWAT team is on guard there as well,” he added.

Fasci Zuazua indicated that there is no report of threats before the attack, but that security at the consular office has been strengthened in order to prevent another criminal act.

“The facilities are practically a bunker”, so the higher level of security will be maintained “as long as it is necessary, there are meetings, today we have a meeting with them to see how we are moving forward,” he said.

Despite the fact that a grenade was also thrown in the attack, he expressed his confidence that it was a “minor incident,” because “if it was organized crime I believe they would have activated the weapon or shot with a different kind of weapon.”

Still, the Secretary of Public Safety of the state asked that everyone wait for the investigations conducted by the PGR and the FBI, to keep rumors from circulating.

In the early morning of Sunday unknown persons shot at the entry door of the U.S. Consulate and the State Treasury Building, without anyone being wounded.