Recently, authorities announced that five mutilated bodies were dumped about 50 miles south of the city in Montemorelos, a place that has historically been known as a peaceful Seventh-Day Adventist town. In addition, 18 people were killed in Monterrey, victims in the latest rash of drug-related violence that has spread fear among residents. Just a few years ago, Monterrey was dubbed the safest city in Latin America and the commercial hub of Mexico. Now, it's fallen victim to the lawlessness and violence spreading throughout the country - a cartel battleground where grenade attacks, shootouts and kidnappings dominate headlines. The rest of the state has also seemingly been victimized by the violence. The high-profile killings began in 2010 and continued into the first week of 2011. Saul Vara Rivera, 48, mayor of Zaragoza in the municipality of Galeana, Nuevo Leon, was shot 23 times in the back. The police forces patrolling Monterrey have been impacted too, with at least 12 officers killed since January 1, 2011. In September 2010, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Monterrey and advised that "the immediate, practical and reliable way to reduce the security risks for all children is to remove them from Monterrey."
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Mexican city struggles to stem flight of fearful residents
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