Signs of torture and bullet wounds

Military presence in Mexico © Ulises Ruiz Basurto

Ensetzen about an attack on two priests: the clergymen were abducted, tortured and shot dead. The state of Veracruz is one of the most dangerous regions of Mexico. Again and again priests get caught between the fronts.

Criminals killed two priests in eastern Mexico. Armed men kidnapped the two men and a sexton in the town of Poza Rica in the state of Veracruz, the local prosecutor's office said. Later, the bodies of the two clergymen were discovered on the side of a country road. According to media reports, they showed signs of torture and gunshot wounds.

According to the report, the third man managed to escape and was questioned by police. The identity of one suspect is already known, investigators said. The investigation would continue.

Mexican Bishops' Conference outraged

The Mexican bishops' conference demanded a quick clarification of the crime. "We are outraged by this violence," a statement said. The Diocese of Papantla also condemned the act, saying, "Once again we are made aware of the violence and insecurity that has taken root in our society."

Veracruz is one of the most dangerous regions in Mexico. The routes of drug smugglers and human traffickers run through the eastern state of the country. Several crime syndicates are vying for dominance there. The Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel and the Los Zetas gang in particular engage in bloody distribution battles.

Working in dangerous neighborhood

The vicar of Papantla told the Milenio newspaper that the priests had not previously been threatened. However, the two would have worked in a dangerous neighborhood. Robberies, kidnappings and blow-ups are commonplace there, said Jose Alberto Guerrero.

Since the beginning of 2013, 14 priests, a seminarian and a sexton have been killed in Mexico. Two other clergymen are believed to be missing. In Mexico's conflict regions, the Catholic Church is considered one of the last institutions that has not been corrupted.