World

Horrific Attack by Two Dozen Gunmen Leaves 50+ Dead at Mexican Casino

Two Dozen Gunmen Storm Mexican Casino, 50+ Dead

Smoke billows from the Casino Royale in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday Aug. 25, 2011. Two dozen gunmen burst into the casino in northern Mexico on Thursday, doused it with a flammable liquid and started a fire that trapped gamblers inside, killing at least 32 people and injuring a dozen more, authorities said. (AP Photo)

MONTERREY, Mexico (The Blaze/AP) — Two dozen gunmen burst into a casino in northern Mexico on Thursday, doused it with a flammable liquid and started a fire that trapped gamblers inside, killing at least 53 people and injuring many more, authorities said.

The fire at the Casino Royale in Monterrey, which has seen a surge in drug cartel-related violence, represented one of the deadliest attacks against an entertainment center in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against drug cartels in late 2006.

State police officials quoted survivors as saying that about two dozen armed men burst into the casino, apparently to rob it, and began dousing the premises with fuel from tanks they brought with them. The officials were not authorized to be quoted by name for security reasons.

With shouts and profanities, the attackers told the customers and employees to get out. But many terrified customers and employees fled further inside the building, where they died trapped amid the flames and thick smoke that soon billowed out of the building.

Angel Flores, a commander of the Monterrey Green Cross rescue service, said 28 bodies had been recovered from the casino, and that more were likely to be recovered. He said most died of asphyxiation.

Two Dozen Gunmen Storm Mexican Casino, 50+ Dead

AP

Monterrey Mayor Fernando Larrazabal said that many of the bodies were found inside the casino’s bathrooms, where employees and customers had locked themselves to escape the armed commando.

While there was no immediate information linking the attack to drug cartels, Monterrey has seen bloody turf battles between the Zetas and Gulf cartels in recent months. Once Mexico’s symbol of development and prosperity, drug-related murders here this year are on pace to double last year’s and triple those of the year before.

Maria Tomas Navarro, 42, stood weeping at the edge of the police tape stretched in front of the smoke-stained casino building. She was hoping for word of her brother, 25-year-old Genaro Navarro Vega, who had worked in the casino’s bingo area.

Two Dozen Gunmen Storm Mexican Casino, 50+ Dead

AP

Navarro said she tried calling her brother’s cell phone “but he doesn’t answer. I don’t know what is happening,” she said. “There is nobody to ask.”

Larrazabal said the casino, in a well-off part of Monterrey, had been closed by authorities in May for building an expansion without a permit, but a judge later granted the owner an injunction to continue operating.

Initial reports said 11 people had been, but the death toll climbed as emergency personnel and firefighters continued to find bodies in the casino building. Medics treated the victims for smoke inhalation.

Two Dozen Gunmen Storm Mexican Casino, 50+ Dead

AP

State police officials initially said witnesses reported hearing three explosions before the fire started, but later said that a flammable material was used. The officials were not authorized to be quoted by name for security reasons.

The reports of explosions may have been the sound of the ignition of the liquid.

The Casino Royale had been attacked by gunmen before; along with three other casinos, gunmen attacked the Royale on May 25.

Comments (103)

  • psychguy
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:04am

    @TXBIGFOOT
    You’re the one who is wrong here. Legalization is THE ONLY answer. And your comparison with gambling is utter nonsense. Providers of illegal gambling do not kill other providers of illegal gambling due to turf wars. I suggest you study the history of prohibition before you back it as a means of control.

    Report Post »  
    • Seede
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:07am

      You better re read your history also. Don’t you remember Moe Green and Bugs Moran era? How do you suppose Ls Vegas was built in the sands of Nevada? You should see the St. Louis stats on organized crime murders and look at the Vegas stats of the desert rats that have been eating sand every day. Who do you think put Harry Reid in charge of Nevada and how do you think he was re elected? Could go on and on but no more room .

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:37am

      Seal the border and this all stops.

      Report Post »  
    • taxed
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:43pm

      Let me guess… good looking white guys with blond hair and blue eyes?

      http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/index.php?board=1.0

      Report Post »  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:56am

    Coming to America soon…….gentlemen, prepare to defend yourselves.

    Report Post »  
    • Mountain Dew
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:26am

      I hope you’re wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • Recursion
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:44pm

      It’s already happening…Texas and Arizona are seeing it. It will just grow from there. What’s gonna stop it? Obama? He needs his votes from somewhere…

      Report Post »  
  • loveoursoldiers
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:51am

    When there are no tourists in Mexico.. then what? oh, yeah.. I forgot.. go to the USA and get free stuff as long as you vote for the commie..and the criminals can continue their reign of terror on US soil.. oh yeah.. I forgot.. they are doing that already with guns compliments of Eric Holder.. life is good.. for illegals and criminals.. not so much for American taxpayers

    Report Post » loveoursoldiers  
  • KusoJiJi
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:42am

    The Janet Reno gang strikes again.

    Report Post » KusoJiJi  
  • ares338
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:28am

    And we want this bunch in the US? WAIT…I know…BO needs their vote!

    Report Post » ares338  
    • vdavid
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:02am

      Obummer, through Executive Order has given 300,000 illegals a free pass into USA and abuse the power of office and disregarded law, AGAIN. How incompetent can you get? Are votes more important than the Security of the USA? With his continued refusal to help the States on the Mexican Border, he puts this Country at risk! Stay tuned for a Riot near you! Its comming!

      Report Post » vdavid  
    • techengineer11
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:56am

      But 20 million more Mexicans will fuel the economic growth! Consider the following from yesterday’s post on diversity.

      Robert: While your 4th point may be obvious to you and I, I didn’t understand this myself until recently. (Simply put there are those among us who desire our destruction.)

      4) The seditious, open borders crowd here that openly advocates for unchecked migration to this country, BUT ONLY IF IT IS NON-WHITE, like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, both of which believe creating a fractious society will mean there will be no more Holocausts, because a mish-mash of contentious cultures will make nationalism impossible, at least in their views.

      Report Post » techengineer11  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:25am

    The war on drugs is really working out for us quite well with our open borders and police not being able to question immigration status of anyone with brown skin,it’s a matter of time before the powder keg we call a border explodes.
    Mexico is a failed narco state and when the mexicans can no longer take the mass murders and poverty they’ll be teeming hordes of mexicans that will use the border patrol as a speed bump when they cross over.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • MrHr1207
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:14am

    Hmmm! Let me think this out for those that can’t . If drugs were no longer illegal in this country would mexico have drug cartels ? No I don’t do drugs ! Just stating the facts. You can not legislate morals !Sure lots of druggies would die at first and some innocent people ! After a while things would straighten out esp if there is no safety net for the druggies. you could release all those non violet drug offenders out of our jails. and all the gang bangers would not have drug turf wars in this country. win win win. people need to have the right to make their own stupid decisions ! End the drug war! .

    Report Post »  
    • bgfree
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:26am

      MRHR1207 is correct. We cannot legislate morality. I hate drugs, but I beleive legalization will solve a lot of problems.

      Report Post »  
    • TexasStu
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:36am

      I agree the war on drugs does not work but there is a lot more to the civil war in Mexico than the drug cartels. There has been lawlessness for many years in Mexico. The corruption is deep in the morality of the people there. For one thing you are not allowed to own guns so the only ones who have guns are the bad guys, heck even if you bring a couple of rounds left on the floorboard of your car you can be arrested for it. I believe they would be at war with each other no matter if drugs cartels were in existence or not. The lack of a stable government, morals and the will of the people to stand up against the evil there are all a part of the problem. You can say a lot about our country but because we have a right to protect ourselves it goes a long way in stopping the corruption from getting as bad as it is in Mexico.

      Report Post » TexasStu  
    • txbigfoot
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:39am

      Your STUPID to think legalization is the answer.
      In the discussion of legalizing marijuana, a useful analogy can be made to gambling. MacCoun & Reuter (2001) conclude that making the government a beneficiary of legal gambling has encouraged the government to promote gambling, overlooking it as a problem behavior. They point out that “the moral debasement of state government is a phenomenon that only a few academics and preachers bemoan.”

      Legalized gambling has not reduced illegal gambling in the United States; rather, it has increased it. This is particularly evident in sports gambling, most of which is illegal. Legal gambling is taxed and regulated and illegal gambling is not. Legal gambling sets the stage for illegal gambling just the way legal marijuana would set the stage for illegal marijuana trafficking.

      The gambling precedent suggests strongly that illegal drug suppliers would thrive by selling more potent marijuana products outside of the legal channels that would be taxed and otherwise restricted. If marijuana were legalized, the only way to eliminate its illegal trade, which is modest in comparison to that of cocaine, would be to sell marijuana untaxed and unregulated to any willing buyer.

      Marijuana is currently the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol in the U.S. In 2008, marijuana use accounted for 4.2 million of the 7 million people aged 12 or older classified with dependence on or abuse of an illicit drug. You get the idea? Now

      Report Post » txbigfoot  
    • itsmyfirstday
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:54am

      you mean….like they did with Prohibition?? but how will the gangs make there money??

      Report Post » itsmyfirstday  
    • RightwingCatholic
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:58am

      ALL laws are moral laws. Murder is illegal because we find murder immoral. same with all laws. Your solution is hmmmmm hard time of it? Change your morals? Sorry I have been forse fed that solution enough lately.

      Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:02am

      I agree you can’t legislate morality they tried it with prohibition and it never works,people are going to do what they want regardless of the laws prohibiting the use of drugs or gambling and prostitution.The war on drugs has been waged for many years and the government hasn’t won the war yet? It’s futile just legalize and tax it, it’s never going away.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • love the kids
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:05am

      Let me think about this, would we still have drug Cartels??? Let me ask another question, do people have work done at their house or on their cars by people who are not business or professional contractors? The answer is an astounding YES. Why would you do this when so many people offer these services legally? It is because the GOVT. puts such a high cost on the legal ones that it makes a hugh financill difference to have people do things on the side. Guess what the Govts. number one reason would be to legalize drugs, it would be for the money. And they are really only talking about Pot right now, so who is going to produce all the other stuff?
      Get millions more americans hooked on pot, and then watch the drug cartels grow by ten fold, because now they would only be charged with importing untaxed goods across the boarder.

      Report Post »  
    • Seede
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:56am

      Why certainly that is a good idea. Then you could have half the country driving cars all stoned up. And open up more drug rehab centers. Course the politicians see lots of revenue in taxes on this . Something like cigarettes. You know, a sin tax. Domestic violence may go up a little and the military may not know when they get shot up because they are so doped up that they don’t feel the pain. Don’y forget you medical staff. They will be right there to help you – all stoned up and ready to serve.

      Report Post »  
    • bikerr
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 11:18am

      You also can’t legislate Immorality. It’s just wrong. Do you care to be the first killed after it’s “legalized”. …….Well?

      Report Post »  
    • wildupnorth
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 2:33pm

      “You can not legislate morals” oft repeated fallacious argument
      The law is to control activity. Many would desire to act out in certain ways but are restrained by the “legal consequences” of their actions and therefore do not act. Part of our “legal” problem is inappropriate or in-effective consequences to law breaking.

      Report Post »  
    • dodgeball
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 3:17pm

      @ bikerr….”You also can’t legislate IM-morality”— Don’t understand that because it is being done all the time by our politicians. How do you think we got Roe V Wade and the killing of millions of babies? How did we get the legislation that allows 2 men or 2 women to get married to each other? What about forbidding the reading of the Bible in school or the hanging of the 10 commandments in a hallway? How about income tax or the nearly bankrupt SS system (from corruption and stealing)? Then there are judges that slap a wrist or let a person off with hardly any punishment at all, if they are told to by those above them. In a fallen world (and until common sense prevails or the Lord returns), the only thing we CAN count on…. is, unfortunately, more IM-morral laws.

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:49pm

      Don’t strain yourself MR, you are obviously incapable of thinking.

      Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:56am

    Bet Eric Holder can still sleep at night.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:24am

      We have all this crap this close to home right? So, why can’t we bring the boys home from the desert and have them sweep through Mexico and remove these cartels? Anyone know why? And I don’t mean bypass Calderone.

      Report Post »  
  • NativeCracker
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:56am

    50 less obama voters

    Report Post » NativeCracker  
  • Ray2447
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:51am

    The government fails to protect good people from violent, thieving thugs who are too lazy to work. It sounds like Washington, D.C. under Obama.

    Report Post »  
  • Rick54
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:33am

    just getting their TAX money back!!!

    Report Post » Rick54  
  • mikester8888
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:59am

    Was the slogen “Yes we can” labeled on their AK47′s?

    Report Post »  
  • MAXIMUS_MARIUSZ
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:30am

    If everyone involved was part of the evil drug empire, bravo, they saved the police a lot of work. If one innocent person was killed in this event, the Mexicans better get a good division of Marines together and wipe out the entire problem now.

    Report Post »  
    • gmoneytx
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:57am

      You didn’t read the article did you, sounds like the law makers voting for Obamacare and reading it afterwards to find out what is in it!

      Report Post » gmoneytx  
    • Hobo Boondocks
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:37am

      Having been to Monterrey a couple of times and hearing stories from relatives of my wife that live there – accounts of kidnappings, robberies, extortion rackets etc. this has some ear marks of casino owners not paying up what was expected from the “ protection racket.” Criminals would rather continue receiving a steady flow of money for ‘protecting’ the casino as opposed to just robbing it occasionally or just once, then burning it down. It’s possible that one mob may have committed this because it couldn’t muscle in on another mob’s territory. In any event, Mexico is showing signs of being a failed state. Many with money are leaving because of this reality alone, not because they need a job. Americans who buy street drugs from Mexico share responsibility for a great deal of the suffering and misery experienced there. The drug profits have provided the money for these criminal organizations to branch out into other areas of crime and bribe law enforcement officers, even hire poor youths as killers, not just transporters of drugs.

      Report Post »  
  • NuffSaid
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:18am

    We could take a lesson from MX–we’re about to get it anyway.

    Gather your fearless squads, make sure you’ve got funding, use the squads to deliver justice.

    Report Post »  
  • TxMadMac
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:13am

    Way over 20,000 innocent mexicans and americans killed in the past few years by the drug cartels. Come on people, only 2,000 in syria and we have to take action ? Bullshavickie !!! This is nothing more than our own antichrist politicians helping to bring about the worldwide muslim caliphate !!! Bring our soldiers home. Take on the cartels. Close the borders and protect them !

    Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:42am

      Ron Paul
      Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • cemerius
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:39am

      Last I heard it was OVER 35,000 dead!

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • bioengineer
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 11:43am

      @TXMADMAC, The word “muslim” or “islam” is strangely missing from this article isn’t it? Oh wait, what’s that, Christian drug lords did this? January of this year the death toll in Mexico was at 34,612. In addition to that seveal hundred Americans have also died on US soil… this ranges from crossover violence along border, border patrol deaths to assassinations. I often see mention of heads being chopped in the comments for articles related to the ME. How many heads have been chopped by Islamic terrorists vs. Christian drug lords in Mexico? The Christian drug lords win by a landslide. Maybe a few dozen heads in the ME compared to hundreds in Mexico.

      http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/34612-deaths-mexico-s-drug-war-4-years-m

      http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1839576,00.html

      Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:46am

    I guess we should grant amnesty to these perps if they come to the USA.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Viking64
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:36am

    This may be coming to the USA soon?, Around the Mexico coastal cities it used to be a decent place to vacation, but not going there now, the greed , fear, and destitution caused by cartels, etc, no thanks. No wonder these thugs all want to live and sell drugs in LA, etc. Fifty people killed, what a disaster!

    Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:56am

      I don’t understand how there can be all this gun violence in these countries. They have very strict anti-gun laws to keep these things from happening. I don‘t understand why the criminals don’t obey the laws….oh wait *criminals*…I get it now

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • Inlandmar2
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:31am

      @ Kaydee…You forgot that Obama sold them the guns.

      Report Post » Inlandmar2  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:34am

    Pray for their souls & those left behind.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:23am

    This is disgusting that any country would allow this sort of killings, over 6,000 people have died in Mexico this past year…seems to me that La Raza would be over their helping their Own people and country..rather than continue their stealing from the American tax payer.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:14am

    50 less commin to america illegally…YEA…

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
    • Time Rebel
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:28am

      @ Scrappy – It’s not very compassionate to say Yippee! “50 less coming across the border…”

      I don’t like boarder jumpers any more than you do, but when 50 people (most of them probably just innocent, decent folk) get killed by criminals, it is not the time to get all happy, now is it?

      Rather, I am sick about the fact that 50 people who were out having fun got killed by an act of terrorism. Terrorism is ugly, no matter where it happens. And I do not have any grudge against the decent, good Mexican people. They are just like us – human beings. And they are dealing with lawlessness and gangs running the streets. Thank God we live in America! Where at least (for the moment), we are still relatively safe. For the moment! But if what’s happening in Europe, the Middle East, and south of the border is any indication of things to come, we better be ready.

      Report Post » Time Rebel  
    • Ron_WA
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:36am

      I hope you reap what you sow

      Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • Tickdog
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:30am

      agreed!

      Report Post » Tickdog  
  • ghostsouls
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:11am

    And we want these fine upstanding citizens of the world to cross our borders illegally and become American citizens, why again?

    Report Post » ghostsouls  
    • Ron_WA
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:38am

      Probably ‘cuz they’ve got a better attitude than you, Mr.Hate

      Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • FedUpWithLeft
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:24am

      To Ron_Wa

      Shut up! Dumbo

      Report Post »  
    • runngun50
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 11:12am

      They expect us to conform to their way of life and speak their language. They flee from their failed society and when we ask them to assimilate into our society they call us racist. Someone please explain to me how it is not racism when I go into a Walmart and notice that the only foreign language on the department signs is Spanish where is the Vietnamese or Polish or Hebrew for that matter. If you are an immigrant from Africa or Japan and go shopping at Walmart you better know the English or Spanish language cause nobody is going to translate for you. Any way you slice it its RACISM!

      Report Post »  
  • Enuff Zenuff
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:31am

    America had to fight for its freedom from an oppresive government and the Mexican people need to do the same – but our Progressive policy embracing open borders and easy amnesty relieves the pressure on the Mexican government because US taxpayers are paying $Billions/year in benefits for illegal aliens, while providing them jobs that enable them to send money back home to Mexico. If we had functional border security, then many more Mexicans would be forced to stay home and deal with the tyranny of their own government… and then maybe they’d do something about it. As long as US taxpayers continue to support so many Mexicans, there’s little incentive for the Mexican government to reform.

    Report Post » Enuff Zenuff  
    • kenboo1
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:48am

      can’t argue with your logic!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:04am

      Don’t forget that French participation in the Revolutionary War is one of the main reasons we won.

      I live in Nebraska. Cattle are one of our major income producers. The only people willing to work the slaughter floor are Mexican immigrants. I have no idea if thery are legal or illegal. They are not taking jobs away from Americans. These are jobs nobody wants their kids to do. I am no supporter of illegal immigration. Breaking the is not a free pass. I strongly support a guarded border. The wall thing I think is useless. There is plenty of videos of people climbing over it. I remember the Berlin Wall. It keeped people out and in.

      Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • teebubba
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:22am

    Please come on down. It’s safe here and we have full employment!

    Report Post » teebubba  
  • Weiners Wiener
    Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:14am

    Mexico is the biggest hellhole in the Western Hemisphere. The whole place should be leveled. Been there several times, will never go near it again. Garbage.

    Report Post »  
    • Time Rebel
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:36am

      While the country of Mexico may be a cesspool of human depravity, there are plenty of decent, good Mexican people. They are just like us – human beings. I am all for border control and requiring anyone wanting to immigrate to America to do it the legal way. But it is for me to resent the Mexican humans beings from wanting to flee from lawlessness and poverty. This act of terrorism is sickening. My heart will always goes out to the innocent whose lives get cut short through senseless acts of violence.

      Report Post » Time Rebel  
    • Windwalker
      Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:37am

      S___ runs downhill, and Mexico from the top down is corrupt to the core. We now have the same type of corruption at the helm of the U.S. government namely Eric Holder and his boss. The MSM doesn’t cover the black riots in Wisconsin, St. Louis or the Latino violence in California, Georgia and elsewhere. This country will never be the same for allowing what they have allowed to inhabit the white house. Thank all the champions of “ethnic diversity”, coupled with no examination of the content of character of these ethnically diverse maggots. Be careful what you wish for.

      Report Post »  

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