The restaurant “El Calamar,” located in the municipality of Coatzacoalcos, in the southern part of the state of Veracruz, has announced its indefinite closure after reopening to the public following a Molotov cocktail attack and a series of threats.
The management of the food and beverage establishment released a statement explaining that the decision to suspend service was made to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
They noted that after the renovation and reopening on February 13, municipal and state authorities provided support and security, for which they expressed gratitude; however, the decision has been made permanently.
“Given the existence of threats that could endanger third parties, and prioritizing the safety and well-being of our customers and our staff, on whom more than 36 families depend, above any economic interest, we have made the responsible decision to close indefinitely,” the statement reads.
It’s worth noting that on the same day as the attack, which was captured on video, in addition to the explosives thrown at the restaurant, a banner was left nearby with a message attributed to organized crime and containing threats against several people.
In the statement signed by Abidan Salas Velázquez, it was reported that on the same day as the reopening, another banner was left with a message directed at the owner of the establishment, allegedly linking him to organized crime, a claim he denied.
“Another banner was placed which, in addition to making false accusations against me, included threats stating that if the reopening proceeded, harm could befall people who frequented the establishment,” they stated.
In the municipality of Coatzacoalcos and throughout southern Veracruz, there have been numerous reports of businesses attacked with incendiary devices due to the owners’ refusal to pay extortion money to organized crime.
Recently, the governor of the state of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle García, announced a series of measures that her administration would take in conjunction with the federal government to reinforce security in some municipalities in the southern part of the state of Veracruz.
Source: jornada
