Mexico ups security amid concerns that drug cartels could attack bicentennial celebrations

Mexico ups security on bicentennial attack concern

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s grand bicentennial celebration in the nation’s capital will go on with military helicopters buzzing overhead, heavily armed federal agents and metal detectors. In some cities, the traditional festivities highlighted by shouts of “Viva Mexico!” won’t happen at all because of fears of what the drug cartels might do.

The 200th anniversary of Mexico’s 1810 independence uprising comes at a time when drug gangs have adopted increasingly brutal and seemingly indiscriminate tactics, including the massacre of 72 migrants last month.

The possibility that they might target bicentennial events is taken seriously enough that a half-dozen cities and towns have canceled celebrations for security reasons. Others have scaled back events drastically.