NOS News•today, 04:29
Two Australians and an American have been killed in Mexico by thieves who tried to steal the tires of their pick-up truck. Local authorities announced this at a press conference.
The Australian brothers and their American friend were on a surfing trip and had been missing since the end of April. Their bodies were found last week in the Mexican coastal state of Baja California. The bodies had been dumped in a pit about 50 feet deep, about 4 miles from where the tourists were killed. The bodies “all have a hole in their head caused by a firearm,” the prosecutor said at the news conference.
According to prosecutors, two men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the case. One of them had a history of violence, drug trafficking and theft, according to authorities.
‘We demand safe beaches’
Baja California borders the United States and is known for its beautiful beaches, but violent organizations are also active. The death of the three tourists leads to much sadness and anger among surfers from the region. Dozens of mourners, surfers and protesters gathered in the city of Ensenada yesterday.
“Ensenada is a mass grave,” read a protest sign. “Australia, we are with you,” wrote a man on a surfboard. A woman held up a sign that read: “They just wanted to surf, we demand safe beaches.”
A female surfer tells the AP that surfers in Baja California are aware of the possible dangers. “We are women and sometimes we like to surf alone. But we never do that because of the situation. We always have to go together.”
