Police detain people for looting while protesting against rising prices of petrol, on the outskirts of Veracruz, Mexico, yesterday.
Mexico City: One police officer was killed in nationwide protests and looting over a spike in petrol prices, officials said yesterday.
At least 600 people have been arrested as truckers, transportation workers and activists have been protesting for five days against 20 percent hikes that took effect January 1.
Five highways were partially blocked by protesters while hundreds of demonstrators took part in seven separate marches in Mexico City alone.
The city attorney’s office published a report that said a vehicle hit six police officers who “were trying to preventing theft at a gas station” on Thursday.
“One of them died at the hospital,” the report says, adding authorities opened an investigation to clearly identify the circumstances.
The National Association of Self-Service and Departmental Stores said at least 120 stores were looted yesterday in addition to the 250 stores looted the previous day.
“The information that we have so far shown that these thefts are perpetrated by neighbours, people who live next to the place they attack,” Mexico City’s government secretary Patricia Mercado said during a radio interview.
In Mexico state, a Mexico City suburb, four police officers were fired after images on social media showed hem holding looted merchandise.
Despite the protests, President Enrique Pena Nieto said his administration would not reverse its decision to raise prices.
“Let me tell you that it is a very difficult decision to take. I understand the anger of Mexican people but I am asking you to understand our reasons,” he said at press conference, adding the “global economic situation” has forced the government to raise prices.
The government said the hikes were a result of the strength of the US dollar. Mexico imports much of its petrol although it exports crude oil.
