Mexico vows World Cup safety after cartel boss's death sparks violence

Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said there is "no risk" for visitors to World Cup games after the killing of a cartel leader sparked a wave of retaliatory violence. The military attempted to detain El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a dawn raid that led to a firefight; he was fatally wounded and died while being airlifted to hospital.

Followers of El Mencho blocked almost 100 major roads and attacked national guard bases, particularly in Jalisco and Michoacán, and at least 25 soldiers and 34 cartel gunmen died in the fighting. By Monday the violence had largely ebbed, though local media reported episodes of violence in several rural municipalities of Jalisco overnight.

Guadalajara, which is due to host four World Cup games, and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta are gradually reopening, and Sheinbaum said there are "all the guarantees" for the tournament co-hosted by the US and Canada, which also includes games in Monterrey and Mexico City's Azteca stadium.

Mexico, Jalisco, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey, Mexico City, Michoacán

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