Murders in Mexico reach record levels in first four months of 2020

Homicides in Mexico hit record levels in the first four months of 2020, climbing by 2.4% from the same period last year, official data showed on Wednesday, dealing a setback to the government’s efforts to restore order.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged to bring down gang-fueled violence afflicting Mexico when he took office in December 2018, but homicides hit a record level in 2019 and have continued to climb even during the coronavirus lockdown.

In the first four months of this year, 11,535 murders were registered, up from 11,266 . . .