News Americas, MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Tues. Aug. 30, 2011: Five men, believed to belong to the Zetas drug cartel, have been nabbed for one of the deadliest episodes of violence since President Felipe Calderon launched his crackdown on drug gangs in late 2006.
The five were arrested Monday by Mexican police in connection with the arson attack that killed 52 people, including 42 women, in the Casino Royale in the northern city of Monterrey on August 25th. Several gunmen burst into the casino and lit it afire.
Police were investigating whether the casino was attacked because protection money had not been paid, State governor Rodrigo Medina said.
He told Mexican television that the five suspects had confessed to being involved in the arson but two other people were being sought. Authorities had offered a $2.4 million reward for information leading to the arrests of those responsible for the arson attack.
Some 40,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence across Mexico in the past five years.
