Mexico City Reporters Attacked By Police While Covering Story

Mexican journalists from TV Azteca and the La Reforma newspaper were beaten and threatened by Mexico City security forces as they tried to cover a drug deal that the police were investigating.

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In the early hours of Sunday morning, a journalist from La Reforma, Alejandro Mendoza was beaten and robbed of his camera and phone by Ministry of Security police forces in Mexico City. He was trying to cover an arrest of men who were carrying several bags of marijuana.  

Just Mendoza was trying to get the story on the Mexico City street, policemen in riot gear immediately approached him, beat him then stole his cameras and phone, according to a bloodied and swollen Mendoza in a video of him posted on a local news twitter feed.

The Mexico City government says they ordered an immediate suspension of the police commander in charge of the operation.

The police "who have acted against the protocols of the institution will be sanctioned according to the law" say authorities in a written statement.

"Mexico City thinks it's a vanguard city where the rights of the people are respected," said Mendoza in his video as medics clean his injured face. He said he hopes justice would be served. Mendoza said he had several pictures of the policeman on his camera of those who robbed him.

In another video, journalist Isidro Corro who was also on the scene says he was threatened by the same police forces.

"They warned me that they would attack my life if I approached," Corro said.

A formal investigation has been opened regarding the assault, According to the capital city government.