Mexican Mayors Seek Protection After Colleague's Murder

Following the brutal beheading of newly elected Mayor Alejandro Arcos in Guerrero, four mayors in Mexico are seeking federal protection due to escalating violence against public officials. Arcos, who had been in office for less than a week, was found dead shortly after voicing concerns about his safety to local media. The requests for additional security come amid a climate of fear, particularly in Guerrero and Guanajuato, where gang violence has resulted in the assassination of numerous politicians, including at least four mayoral candidates ahead of the June elections. Federal Public Safety Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch noted that while the mayors requested protection, no formal request from Arcos for additional security had been submitted before his death. The state capital, Chilpancingo, is currently dominated by rival drug gangs that frequently target local officials for extortion. As violence continues to rise, authorities can provide mayors with enhanced security measures such as bulletproof vehicles and bodyguards.