Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Forum: Violence???

I read that a tourist was almost hit by this blast in the Dallas Morning News. Please tell me why I should be concerned with the recent attacks in acapulco and zihua? I really want to keep my plans but do not want to put my family in any danger.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11:26 a.m. February 11, 2006

ZIHUATANEJO, Mexico – Assailants lobbed a grenade at a hotel and a prison director and police chief barely survived separate attempts on their lives in an outbreak of violence in several parts of Mexico early Saturday.

The grenade attack happened in the resort city of Zihuatanejo, 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Acapulco. The weapon exploded about 4 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) in the parking lot of the Hotel Posada Colonial, shattering windows and injuring a person who was hit in the leg by a fragment of the weapon, Preventive Police official Miguel Garcia said.

The incident marked the third grenade attack in less than a week on Mexico's Pacific coast. On Friday, grenades were thrown at a police station and the office of local prosecutors in Acapulco, slightly injuring one police officer. On Tuesday, assailants tossed two hand grenades at the home of Zihuatanejo's police chief, injuring a policeman who was guarding the home. No one has been detained in any of the attacks.

In the northern state of Coahuila before dawn Saturday, state Police Chief Gaspar Ramos was shot in the neck and the stomach while eating tacos at an all-night restaurant, Mexican news media reported.

Ramos was in serious condition at a hospital, and police were searching for his attacker, identified as the son of a local nightclub owner who had been arguing with Ramos at the restaurant. A waiter was hit by a bullet in the leg during the shooting. Ramos was suspended from his post pending the outcome of an investigation into the attack.

Shortly after midnight Friday, assailants threw an explosive device, possibly a grenade, at a truck being driven by Luis Fernando Mendoza, security director of the La Palma maximum-security prison, while he was driving on a highway in Mexico State, in central Mexico, Mexican news media reported.

Mendoza escaped with minor injuries. The perpetrators were still at large. La Palma, located outside Mexico City, houses some of the country's most dangerous criminals, including major drug traffickers.

Judy, I too have been very concerned about what I have been reading. I am coming down in May with my children. Please just keep reassuring us! Thank you Judy, I appreciate and respect your guidance.

These incidents are all drug related...this hotel is not where USA and Canadian tourists stay...the current violence in Petatlan was not tourist related...but again drug problems...I live in Zihua...feel no threats at all because of this violence. Read your local papers...there are problems all over the world...

I was in Acapulco for a week 3/17- 3/24 It was fine, I had no problems. Just stayed by the hotel areas and thats it, was out all times day and night and had no problems. People there were very nice, some people claim that the drivers on the road are bad, I did not see any of that. If somebody jay walk the drivers slowed right down for them, same if another driver pulled out without looking. They do come very close but they only go 30-35 mph so that helps alot. One thing I did notice was lots of very arm police officers and not just a few but 40-50 of them in 4-5 beds of pick up trucks when they did come by. The drive to the airport is 25 mins. and lots of people live all around there. Acapulco is very big and its a long way from some of the places to the hotel zone. I don't think it really matters if its drug violence or what ever, violence is violence, and the drug guys are the worst type. But it is very very safe where the hotels are at. Safer than alot of nice towns in the US and Canada. Do not worry, I did a little before I went and found it very safe and the people are very nice too. There is nothing to do or see outside the hotel zone so don't worry about what happens there.

Thank you for your feedback. We are so excited for our trip to Zihua! Can't wait!