Presidential campaign rally in Mexico turns deadly after strong gust of wind topples stage

At least nine people were killed and dozens more were injured at a campaign rally in northern Mexico on Wednesday evening after a strong gust of wind toppled the stage.

The rally was being held for long-shot presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, according to The Associated Press. Máynez went to the hospital after the incident, but later announced that he was in good condition.

He also said he has suspended upcoming campaign events, adding that the victims "will not be alone in this tragedy."

"The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident," he said.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE, 5 OTHERS KILLED BY GUNFIRE AT CAMPAIGN RALLY IN SOUTHERN MEXICO

Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel García, who is a leading member of Máynez’s Citizens Movement party, said at least nine people, including a child, were killed and 63 were injured. 

He also posted a video message asking residents in the area to shelter in their homes for the next two hours because of the weather.

Videos from the rally showed Máynez waving his arm and the crowd chanting his name when he noticed a giant screen and metal structure falling in his direction, the AP reported. He was able to run toward the back of the stage to escape the toppling structure.

Other campaign attendees, many of whom were screaming, could be seen running away while some climbed out from under collapsed metal poles, according to The AP.

ANOTHER MEXICAN POLITICIAN MURDERED IN LEADUP TO JUNE NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Máynez, who is polling third in the country's presidential race, has been trailing Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez – both of whom sent their condolences not long after the tragic event took place.

Sheinbaum, who is leading the pack, said she has canceled a Thursday campaign event in the nearby city of Monterrey "in solidarity" with the victims and their families.

Gálvez wrote on social media, "My condolences and prayers with the families of the dead, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured."

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also shared sympathies, saying he "sends a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters." 

Mexico is at the height of its campaign season as presidential, state and municipal elections will be held on June 2. 

In addition to Wednesday night's deadly weather event, the campaign season has also been plagued by the killings of about two dozen candidates for local offices.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Netanyahu takes aim at 'rogue' ICC prosecutor after request for arrest warrants: 'Outrageous'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday for its decision earlier this week to request arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas officials. 

Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as top Hamas officials Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif and Ismail Haniyeh. 

"It’s outrageous," Netanyahu told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "This is a rogue prosecutor who's gone amok. He's out to demonize the one and only Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East, and it's both false and dangerous."

Khan accused Netanyahu and Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He alleged seven crimes committed by the top Israeli officials, including the "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare," "intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population" and "willful killing."

Netanyahu criticized the ICC for requesting arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas officials at the same time, arguing there is an attempt to create a "false symmetry" between the "democratically elected leaders of Israel and the terrorist tyrants of Hamas." 

He added that the ICC’s decision would be like requesting arrest warrants for Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler during World War II or President George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden during the war on terror. 

NIGHT OF INTENSE FIGHTING MARKS ISRAELI ADVANCE DEEPER INTO RAFAH

Israel launched its war after Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and abducted roughly 250 more to Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, which doesn’t distinguish between the deaths of civilians and combatants, said more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war.

President Biden rejected the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli officials, saying there is "no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas." 

"It's clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection," Biden said. 

He added: "Contrary to allegations against Israel made by the International Court of Justice, what's happening is not genocide. We reject that. We're going to always stand with Israel and the threats against their security."

AUSTIN SAYS NO EVIDENCE THAT ISRAEL IS COMMITTING ‘GENOCIDE’ IN GAZA STRIP WAR AGAINST HAMAS

Netanyahu also criticized the ICC for alleging Israel has been starving Palestinian civilians. 

Khan said in a statement that since Oct. 8, Israel has imposed a "total siege" of Gaza that involved the closing of three border crossing points that "arbitrarily restrict[ed] the transfer of essential supplies — including food and medicine — through the border crossings after they were reopened."

"The siege also included cutting off cross-border water pipelines from Israel to Gaza — Gazans’ principal source of clean water — for a prolonged period beginning 9 October 2023, and cutting off and hindering electricity supplies from at least 8 October 2023 until today. This took place alongside other attacks on civilians, including those queuing for food; obstruction of aid delivery by humanitarian agencies; and attacks on and killing of aid workers, which forced many agencies to cease or limit their operations in Gaza," the statement read in part. 

Netanyahu called the charge a "pack of lies" and "false." 

"We put in 20,000 trucks — 500,000 tons of food and medicine. The price of food in Gaza has plummeted because markets don't lie," he told Hannity. "People receive about 3,000 calories per day compared to the 2,000 that's required. It's a bunch of baloney." 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Congress is reviewing its options to respond to the ICC’s decision, including the possibility of sanctions. 

A panel of three ICC judges must decide in the coming months whether to grant the arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh. 

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