Fruit Vendor Assault Sparks Mob Violence in Puebla

A fruit vendor in Tehuacán, Puebla, was violently assaulted on Avenida Independencia yesterday evening. According to witnesses, the aggressors, owners of a nearby auto parts store, accused the vendor of obstructing their business. The assault was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, sparking public outrage. "They beat him mercilessly," stated one witness who chose to remain anonymous. Later that night, a crowd gathered and set fire to the auto parts store and the aggressors' home. Fifty police officers responded, firing shots in the air to disperse the crowd and rescue a woman trapped in the burning house. The state prosecutor's office has opened an investigation and is providing protection to the injured vendor. The incident highlights the tensions between small businesses and larger commercial enterprises in Puebla and raises questions about community justice.