Canadian woman killed after gunman opens fire at Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramids

One Canadian tourist has been killed and at least four other people have been shot after an armed man opened fire at one of Mexico’s most famous tourist destinations, the Teotihuacán pyramids near Mexico City.

The shooting – the latest violent incident to affect Mexico as it prepares to co-host the football World Cup in June – took place on Monday lunchtime and was captured in mobile phone videos shot by visitors to the site.

One witness, Laura Torres, told the newspaper La Jornada she heard more than 20 shots coming from the Pyramid of the Moon, the second largest in the ancient complex of constructions. “First it was sporadic, then one shot after another, then sporadic again,” said Torres, who believed the alleged shooter – who authorities said took his own life – had used a handgun.

Mexican media reports said the fatal victim was a 32-year-old female from Canada.

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, voiced “deep pain” over the attack on the Unesco world heritage site, which follows a high-profile explosion of violence in February after the killing of a top narco boss known as “El Mencho” near the city of Guadalajara.

“I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” Sheinbaum wrote on social media, calling for a thorough investigation.

The British embassy in Mexico City urged UK citizens to follow instructions from local authorities if they were in the area where the shooting took place.

Mexican authorities said four people – citizens of Colombia, Russia and Canada – sustained gunshot wounds in the shooting. Another victim suffered a broken bone, seemingly after falling while on the 43-metre-tall pyramid. Mexico’s foreign ministry said it was in permanent contact with the Canadian embassy in Mexico “and other embassies of affected individuals to provide timely follow-up on these events”.

The shooting at the world-famous archaeological site made front-page headlines and caused widespread shock in Mexico, where authorities are gearing up to host 13 games in the World Cup, including its opening match. Concerns over Mexico’s security situation grew after a wave of coordinated cartel attacks followed the killing of El Mencho in February, although that violence was quickly contained.

The Teotihuacán complex is one of Mexico’s most visited destinations, drawing close to 2 million tourists each year.