Mexico: US Embassy staff shot were CIA, says New York Times

GlobalPost

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Two Americans shot by Mexican federal police last Friday were employees of the Central Intelligence Agency working in Mexico as part of a multi-agency task force fighting the country’s powerful drug cartels, the New York Times reported today.

The operatives were wounded when plain-clothed federal police officers opened fire on their US Embassy four-wheel-drive vehicle south of Mexico City.

More from GlobalPost: Mexico: US Embassy employees shot by police

Twelve federal police officers involved in the shooting are in custody while investigators work out if the incident was a botched car chase or a deliberate attack.

President Felipe Calderon vowed Tuesday to get to the bottom of the shooting. 

More from GlobalPost: Mexico President Felipe Calderon expresses regret over US Embassy vehicle shooting

The New York Times, citing unnamed American officials, said there was no evidence so far that the men were targeted because they were from the CIA.

The US employees and a Mexican navy captain were driving to a navy training camp when they were attacked. Photos published online show their four-wheel-drive vehicle riddled with bullets.

The CIA has increased its presence in Mexico as the United States helps Mexico in its war on drug traffickers, the Washington Post reported.

More than 50,000 people have died in drug-related violence since late 2006 when President Felipe Calderon deployed thousands of soldiers and federal police to fight the drug cartels.

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