A Canadian woman was killed in shootings in the important Mexican ruined city of Teotihuacan a few weeks before the start of the World Cup.
April 21, 2026, 04:25April 21, 2026, 04:25
An armed man opened fire for reasons that are still unclear and then took his own life, Mexican security authorities said. At least 13 other foreign visitors, including a six-year-old, were also injured and taken to hospitals.
Forensics examine the crime scene: The pyramids of Teotihuacan are a popular tourist destination.Image: keystone
“What happened in Teotihuacan today hurts us deeply,” wrote President Claudia Sheinbaum on Platform X. She expressed her solidarity with those affected and their families. The Mexican government is in contact with the Canadian embassy.
Tourists from Russia, Colombia and Canada injured
According to a statement from the security cabinet, tourists from Colombia, Canada, Russia, Brazil and the USA were injured, seven of them by gunfire. Others suffered injuries as a result of falls. In addition to the six-year-old child from Colombia, the people with gunshot wounds also include a 13-year-old Brazilian girl.
Teotihuacan is one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico. In addition to the Sun Pyramid, the Moon Pyramid and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent can be seen on the site just outside Mexico City. A video on Platform X showed the gunman firing shots from the Pyramid of the Moon.
The very unusual incident in the otherwise peaceful ruined city occurred in the run-up to the World Cup, which Mexico, Canada and the USA are hosting together in the summer. At its peak in the 5th and 6th centuries, Teotihuacán was the most important metropolis in Mesoamerica and one of the largest cities in the world. The complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of the most important tourist attractions in Mexico. (sda/dpa)