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January 20, 2026 – Mexico –
Three journalists from the digital news outlet SinEmbargo were physically attacked and threatened on January 15, 2026, while attempting to document illegal animal sales at the Mercado de Mixhuca in Mexico City’s Venustiano Carranza borough, according to human rights organisation Artículo 19 México y Centroamérica. The incident has drawn condemnation from press freedom advocates and calls for a comprehensive investigation by authorities into the assault and threats against the media workers.
The team had entered the market to record footage of the sale of birds and other species, a practice that local regulations prohibit. Inside the market, one vendor harassed the journalists and demanded they delete their recordings, forcing them to leave the premises as they noticed they were being followed.
After exiting the market, two individuals on a motorcycle blocked the journalists’ vehicle on Avenida 20 de Noviembre and then physically assaulted them, demanding that they erase the material they had captured. One reporter was struck in the head, while another received punches and kicks to the body and face. The attackers also damaged the journalists’ vehicle before the team managed to escape the scene.
Following the assault, the journalists filed a complaint with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía de la Ciudad de México). However, the initial classification of the incident as an administrative offence drew criticism from Article 19, which argued that the authorities failed to adequately consider the context of press freedom and the journalists’ professional work.
Artículo 19 has urged the prosecutor’s office and relevant protection mechanisms to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation that recognises the reporters’ activities as part of their journalistic duties and to implement immediate protective measures for the victims. The organisation stressed that aggression and threats aimed at preventing journalists from reporting on matters of public interest constitute an attack on freedom of expression and can deter critical and legally permissible journalism.
The episode highlights ongoing safety challenges for journalists in Mexico, where media professionals frequently face violence, intimidation, and obstruction — particularly when covering criminal activities or environmental and wildlife crimes that may involve powerful actors or actors who resent exposure. The response by civil society emphasises the need for stronger enforcement of legal protections for journalists and accountability for those who commit violent acts against the press.
Reference –
Journalists documenting illegal animal sales attacked in Mexico City
