Urban violence

Germany: Neo-Nazi Mob Attacks Indian Tourists

Date: August 22nd, 2007 |

A mob of some 50 neo-Nazi youths attacked a group of eight Indian tourists during a festival in the town of Mugeln near Leipzig in eastern Germany Aug. 19. Witnesses reported hearing xenophobic chants including “foreigners out” during the attack but town officials seemed perplexed that there could be any right-wing extremists in their community. [read more]

Brazil: Shootout Closes Rio’s Airport Runway

Date: June 27th, 2007 |

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Less than three weeks before the start of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, military police and alleged criminals clashed in a shootout at the international airport causing one runway to be shut down for 35 minutes and delaying flights from Sao Paulo to Rio. The gunfight occurred as police continued their crackdown [read more]

Denmark: Calm Returns to Copenhagen after Leftist Youth Riot

Date: March 7th, 2007 |

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Calm has come to Copenhagen following the city’s worst riots since 1993. Some 600 people were arrested over three days of violence when leftist youths and anarchists rioted after being evicted from a building that had been held by squatters since the 1980s. Denmark’s tolerance of rebellion had allowed youths to control the building all [read more]

Ukraine: Skinhead Attacks Have Increased in Kiev

Date: November 7th, 2006 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Kiev issued an announcement Nov. 3 reminding Americans that racially-motivated attacks by skinheads have increased and “have occurred without provocation in prominent areas of downtown Kiev that are commonly frequented by tourists.” The majority of victims have been of Asian, African or other non-European descent, but all visitors should be vigilant. [read more]

Mexico: Violence along the Border

Date: September 19th, 2006 |

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The U.S. State Department issued a public announcement about “brutal violence” throughout Mexico, but especially in Nuevo Laredo across the Rio Grande from Laredo, Texas. Much of the violence is narcotics related and the announcement warned of a possible resurgence of kidnappings for ransom. There is no evidence that Americans are being targeted, but criminals [read more]

Canada: Toronto “Panhandlers” Kill a Man

Date: August 15th, 2007 |

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Aggressive panhandling that more resembled armed robbery took the life of a man near downtown Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park. He and a friend were walking just after midnight Aug. 11 when accosted by two men and two women, all in their early 20s, who demanded money. When the victim and friend refused, a verbal exchange [read more]

Mexico: Gang Violence Reaches Zihuatanejo

Date: April 11th, 2007 |

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Drug gang-related violence that has plagued Acapulco and other places in Guerrero state spilled over to the resort town of Zihuatanejo April 4 when assailants tossed grenades at a municipal police station and an office of federal police. A tourist from Michoacan received minor injuries but a police officer was seriously hurt. Authorities consider the [read more]

Mexico: Canadians Shot in Acapulco; Police Killed by Drug Gangs

Date: February 7th, 2007 |

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Two Canadian tourists were grazed by bullets in the heart of Acapulco’s tourist district Feb. 4 when someone fired into their hotel lobby. The city has been the site of ongoing hostilities between rival drug cartels, and police believe this incident was related to these turf wars. Last month more than 7,000 federal police and [read more]

Mexico: Oaxaca Crisis Continues

Date: October 31st, 2006 |

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Federal police were dispatched to Oaxaca to break down the barricades, push out the protesters who have occupied the colonial city’s main square since May, and restore the rule of law throughout the city. Police cleared the area Oct. 29 but protesters returned and clashed with riot troops Oct. 30, raising the stakes and suggesting [read more]

Haiti: Border Violence and Spike in Kidnapping

Date: August 8th, 2006 |

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Violent gang activity on the Haitian side of the Malpasse-Jimani border crossing to the Dominican Republic prompted the U.S. Embassy to declare it off-limits to personnel and to urge Americans to avoid the area. The border post remains open but gangs have attacked cars with rocks and some vehicles have been fired upon. In other [read more]