Mexican authorities arrested soldiers who were part of a patrol that opened fire on a pickup truck killing six migrants, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, two days after the incident.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killings, which happened the day she was inaugurated, and the country's Catholic bishops sharply criticized the growing power of the military.

Six people died and 10 were injured in southern Chiapas state on Tuesday near the border with Guatemala after soldiers fired on the truck transporting 33 migrants.

"It's a regrettable event and it must be investigated and punished," said Sheinbaum during a press conference. "A situation like this cannot be repeated."

Mexican federal prosecutors have identified three of the victims as Egyptian nationals, while one came from Honduras and another from Peru. Sheinbaum noted that one of the dead migrants was from El Salvador.

Later on Thursday, however, the Honduran foreign minister denied that any Honduran national died in the incident.

The other 27 migrants include citizens of Egypt, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Cuba, according to prosecutors.

In a statement, the prosecutors disclosed that the soldiers face an investigation in which local authorities are working with rights experts, immigration officials, the Guatemalan government and Interpol.

The surviving migrants are also being interviewed alongside assistance provided by their nations' consulates, as well as psychologists and other specialised personnel, the statement added.

In its initial description of the deadly incident, Mexico's defense ministry explained that soldiers opened fire after the pick-up truck tried to evade a military patrol and that soldiers reported hearing explosions before two officers opened fire.

In a statement released later on Thursday, Mexico's Catholic bishops objected to what they described as the "disproportionate use of lethal force" by the soldiers.

"This tragedy arises not as an isolated event, but as a consequence of the militarization of migration policy and an increased presence of armed forces on the southern border of the country, which has been a constant," according to the statement, which also called for an impartial probe into the incident.

Peru's government also condemned the killings in a statement on Wednesday and insisted that Mexican authorities carry out an investigation.

The office of El Salvador's president did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Egypt's Mexican embassy said it did not have information to share.

A security crisis has been growing in the southern Mexican region that borders Guatemala, where a territorial battle between powerful criminal groups has led to a sharp increase in violence over the last year.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mexican authorities arrested soldiers who were part of a patrol that opened fire on a pickup truck killing six migrants, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, two days after the incident.

Mexican authorities arrested soldiers who were part of a patrol that opened fire on a pickup truck killing six migrants, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, two days after the incident. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the killings, which happened the day she was inaugurated, and the country's Catholic bishops sharply criticized the growing power of the military. Six people died and 10 were injured in southern Chiapas state on Tuesday near the border with Guatemala after soldiers fired on the truck transporting 33 migrants. "It's a regrettable event and it must be investigated and punished," said Sheinbaum during a press conference. "A situation like this cannot be repeated." Mexican federal prosecutors have identified three of the victims as Egyptian nationals, while one came from Honduras and another from Peru. Sheinbaum noted that one of the dead migrants was from El Salvador. Later on Thursday, however, the Honduran foreign minister denied that any Honduran national died in the incident. The other 27 migrants include citizens of Egypt, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Cuba, according to prosecutors. In a statement, the prosecutors disclosed that the soldiers face an investigation in which local authorities are working with rights experts, immigration officials, the Guatemalan government and Interpol. The surviving migrants are also being interviewed alongside assistance provided by their nations' consulates, as well as psychologists and other specialised personnel, the statement added. In its initial description of the deadly incident, Mexico's defense ministry explained that soldiers opened fire after the pick-up truck tried to evade a military patrol and that soldiers reported hearing explosions before two officers opened fire. In a statement released later on Thursday, Mexico's Catholic bishops objected to what they described as the "disproportionate use of lethal force" by the soldiers. "This tragedy arises not as an isolated event, but as a consequence of the militarization of migration policy and an increased presence of armed forces on the southern border of the country, which has been a constant," according to the statement, which also called for an impartial probe into the incident. Peru's government also condemned the killings in a statement on Wednesday and insisted that Mexican authorities carry out an investigation. The office of El Salvador's president did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Egypt's Mexican embassy said it did not have information to share. A security crisis has been growing in the southern Mexican region that borders Guatemala, where a territorial battle between powerful criminal groups has led to a sharp increase in violence over the last year. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mexican soldiers who shot at pickup truck carrying migrants arrested

Ledy Perez clenched her hand, covering her face as she wept, an arm clutching her small 6-year-old son, who glared defiantly at the Mexican National Guard soldier blocking them from crossing into the United States. The plight of this mother and son who had traveled some 1,500 miles (2,410 km) from their home country of Guatemala to the border city of Ciudad Juarez, only to be stopped mere feet from the United States, was captured by Reuters photographer Jose Luis Gonzalez as twilight approached on Monday (July 22). One of several images Reuters published of the scene, it has thrown into the spotlight the role Mexico's militarized National Guard police force is playing in containing migration, mostly from Central America. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador created the National Guard to bring down record homicide rates, but almost a third of its members are now assigned to patrolling the border to placate President Donald Trump's demands of stemming the flow of U.S.-bound migrants. The soldier displayed no overt aggression during the nine-minute encounter with Perez and her son. Still, the power dynamics apparent in the image resonated with criticism of the treatment migrants are receiving during the clampdown by Mexico. Lopez Obrador's spokesman, Jesus Ramirez, said the image was an example of the National Guard doing its job of looking after public security. He said the soldier did not impede Perez from crossing but advised her of the dangers of doing so.

Tearful mother begs Mexican soldiers to let her enter U.S

mexican-soldiers

Mexican Soldiers, News on Mexican Soldiers, stories on Mexican Soldiers, articles on Mexican Soldiers, Mexican Soldiers stories at Wion, Mexican Soldiers news, Mexican Soldiers latest news

mexican soldiers

Mexican soldiers who shot at pickup truck carrying migrants arrested

Tearful mother begs Mexican soldiers to let her enter U.S