Five members of the Los Zetas drug cartel have been arrested for last week’s attack on a casino in Monterrey, Mexico. Nuevo Leon Gov. Rodrigo Medina de la Cruz announced Monday that the men set Casino Royale on fire because the owners refused to give in to extortion demands.
"Presumably, there was a disagreement and this crime was perpetrated as a reprisal," Medina de la Cruz said, adding that the men confessed to the crime and authorities have “scientific proof” of their involvement.
At least two other Los Zetas members are wanted in connection with the attack. The five men in custody have been identified as Luis Carlos Carrazco Espinosa, 25; Javier Alonso Martinez Morales, 37; Jonathan Jahir Reyna Gutierrez, 18; Juan Angel Leal Flores, 20; and Julio Tadeo Berrones, 28.
Authorities say the men wore masks and carried automatic rifles when they doused the inside of Casino Royale with gasoline last Thursday and set the building on fire. Dozens of customers escaped through the main entrance of the casino, but dozens of others were trapped inside when the flames spread and blocked the door. Side and back entrances to the building had been blocked. Government officials say 53 people died in the blaze.
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