MEXICO: ANARCHIST GROUPS REPORTEDLY TARGETING POLICE OFFICERS, DISSEMINATING PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
06771549
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
March 8, 2023
Document Release Date: 
February 1, 2019
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Case Number: 
F-2018-02491
Publication Date: 
October 22, 2013
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PDF icon MEXICO ANARCHIST GROUPS R[15565098].pdf159.63 KB
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Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549 OPEN SOURCE ENTERPRISE UNCLASSIFIED (U) Mexico: Anarchist Groups Reportedly Targeting Police Officers, Disseminating Photos on Social Media (U) LAR2013101872248889 24 Horas 2000 17 October 2013 -2000 17 October 2013 (U) [Report by Arturo Angel: "Anarchists, On the Hunt for Police Officers."' (U) Note: The translation below is machine based with limited editorial intervention. (U) Anarchists have started to target the police. Over the weekend, anarchist cells have published photographs, in social networks, of the Grenadiers [armored anti-riot police unit] chief of Mexico City's Public Security Secretariat (SSPDF) and of an alleged undercover cop. They have asked their followers to disseminate these images in order to identify them. (U) This is the second time they showing a photograph pinpointing a specific public official. The first one was SSPDF Undersecretary Luis Rosales Gamboa who, on October 2, was recognized, attacked and injured by a group of anarchists. (U) In the last year, after every protest that ends with acts of violence, anarchist groups have used different profiles in social networks and blogs to highlight what they consider to be Police abuse. They often load photographs and their own videos, or some images of their supporters participating in these rallies. (U) Nevertheless, over several months they have identified "specific objectives," which they pinpoint by posting their photograph, together with their name or a nickname. (U)Although profile operators do not publicly provide clear instructions to cause them harm, there are some messages of hatred and threats posted by those who look at the images. (U) This was the case with Gamboa Rosales, identified as "Jefe Apolo" ["Apollo Boss,"]. Photographs of him were posted following incidents during Enrique Pena Nieto's inaugural ceremony, on December 1, and on September 1, Mexico's State of the Union address. (U) Last Wednesday, the "veiled" threat actually became true, after a group of anarchists identified Gamboa's position along Paseo de la Reforma, and hurled firecrackers at him. The police chief ended with a cut head because the device fell over a meter away from where he stood. (U) This weekend, the anarchists expanded their list of objectives. They have added two more police agents with several photographs, and have asked their members to copy this information. (U) New "Targets" (U) The cell known as Bloque Anarko Sur [South Anarko Bloc] has published four images of Metropolitan Police Chief, Armando Jimenez Palacios, second in command of the 2 October operation, only second to "Apolo." Out of all the photographs, in two he appears without glasses, in one wearing glasses, and the fourth one is a hand-drawn portrait. (U) This leader has been identified by the anarchists both by his name and nickname, "Achilles." In the Facebook , entry they accuse him of "leading seven groups of grenadiers, of being a former Army member, and of being charged of human rights violations during an operation in Tepito." (U) Neither the leader's name nor his nickname, "Achilles," had been published in the media. The Bloque Anarko Sur was the same cell that released the names of those arrested on October 2, including preliminary investigation identification numbers. (U) On the other hand, the cell responsible for disseminating anarchist propaganda, known as "Grupo Anarquista DILE" ("TELL Anarchist Group"), disseminated photographs of an alleged undercover cop with the caption "WANTED." The LAR2013101872248889 UNCLASSIFIED Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549 Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549 OPEN SOURCE ENTERPRISE UNCLASSIFIED (U) Mexico: Anarchist Groups Reportedly Targeting Police Officers, Disseminatin... Continued photograph shows the person together with others, in the exact moment when they are dragging a young detainee, on October 2. (U) The profile operators accuse the alleged police officer of being an SSPDF "hawk" [observer], thus their calling to disseminate these images. (U) Other groups in Facebook such as "Guerrilla Comunicacional Mexico" ("Mexico Guerrilla Communication "] which point out that they simply disseminate information, has placed a photograph of alleged police agents profiles in Facebook, in which they refer to clashes with anarchists. (U) SSPDFMakesInquiresofWheretheInformationComesFrom (U) After a year of demonstrations and of disseminating multiple data in social networks, which include manuals on how to attack the police, the city's authorities have now stated that they will proceed to investigate the operations of these groups, which will not only include networks or blogs, it will also cover well-established web sites. (U) SSPDF Chief, Jesus Rodriguez Almeida, stated that they are investigating access to the information they handle and its scope. He also warned, without going into details, that the police will be prepared to respond to these situations. (U) At the time, city authorities pointed out that the Investigation Police were tracking these pages, but they never reported on the results. (U) Additionally to their presence in networks and blogs, anarchist groups have at least one well-established web page such as Cruz Negra Anarquista [Anarchist Black Cross], through the www.abajolosmuros.org web site. (U) The .org domain is usually for US and European political parties, environmental groups, NG0s, diplomatic missions, among others. (U) The above mentioned page which has over 165,000 visits provides, among other things, step by step instructions of what to do in case a person is arrested by the police, as well as details of a person's rights when arrested by authorities. (U)** (U) BailMoneyContributions,DeadlineExpires Today (U) Anarchist cells have used social networks to call on their followers to support and contribute by helping to pay 130,000 pesos [some $10,120] in bail money imposed on 9 detainees, arrested on October 2, who are being accused of crimes against public order. (U) Its Facebook page "Cuartei Anarquista A.C." [AC Anarchist Headquarters] contains details of a new bank account at Bancomer in addition to the one already opened in September at Banamex, to help collect sufficient funds. (U) The 72-hour deadline for judges to rule on the situation of all the detainees expires on Monday [October 21], for those who have been granted bail as well as for the ten who have not since they are accused with the aggravating factor of acting "in a gang." (U) [Description of Source: Mexico City 24 Horas in Spanish � Website of national daily established in 2011, focusing on politics; Raymundo Rive Palacio is its director general; URL: http://www.24-horas.mx] (U) This product may contain copyrighted material; authorized use is for national security purposes of the United States Government only. Any reproduction, dissemination, or use is subject to the OSC usage policy and the original copyright. UNCLASSIFIED Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549 Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549 OPEN SOURCE ENTERPRISE UNCLASSIFIED (U) Mexico: Anarchist Groups Reportedly Targeting Police Officers, Disseminatin... Continued Return to Top DOCUMENT DETAILS CONTENTS Produced By: CIA Product Type: Translation/Transcription Document Number: LAR2013101872248889 Posted: 22 Oct 2013 22:13:28 Publication Date: 23 Oct 2013 Source Name: 24 Horas Source Language: Spanish Source City: Mexico City Source Start Date: 2013-10-17 Source End Date: 2013-10- 17 Slug: Report by Arturo Angel: "Anarchists, On the Hunt for Police Officers." POC Information: OSC, Commercial7 Material used in the WIRe may be subject to copyright laws. Further reproduction and dissemination by any means, for any purpose other than official business, may be subject to copyright restrictions and is generally prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. UNCLASSIFIED Approved for Release: 2019/01/29 C06771549