Mexico casino attack leaves Moterrey residents horrified: around 53 reported dead (video)

Monterrey, lies around 140 miles from the Texas border, is a relatively wealthy city of about 4 million people and it is home to some of Mexico's biggest companies. It was for many years seen as a model of economic development but it has been ravaged by the drugs war over the past two years

This city was shocked on thursday when a couple of men stormed into the Royale Casino in Monterreyin broad daylight and set it on fire in an attempt to rob it. One survivor said that the assailants threatened them, sprayed some kind of fuel and set the place alight. The hotel staff and customers tried to run for cover but could not make it to the door as they choked of smoke inhalation, 53 mortalities reported.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon called for an unprecedented three-day mourning period and labeled the attack the worst against civilians in the country's recent history. U.S president, Barack Obama called the incident 'barbaric and reprehensible' in a statement.

This is the second attack in three months in Monterrey but in the first one, there were no mortalities. This one has left the residents, the whole country and the world at large shocked.

Story courtesy of Aljazeera