• A search is underway for four US citizens who were kidnapped last week.
• According to the US government, they were then loaded into a vehicle and driven away.
• The Americans crossed the border to purchase medication.

A search is underway for four US citizens who were kidnapped last week in north-eastern Mexico during a clash that killed one Mexican citizen.

The Americans were driving through Matamoros, Tamaulipas state, in a white minivan when they were shot at by an unidentified group of gunmen.

According to the US government, they were then loaded into a vehicle and driven away.

According to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Americans crossed the border to purchase medication.

However, his statement was not confirmed by US officials, who have not named the four missing people.

President López Obrador stated that his “entire government” was working to free the four US citizens.

On Monday, he met with US Ambassador Ken Salazar at Mexico City’s National Palace.

“There was a confrontation between groups and they were kidnapped,” the president said.

According to Mr Salazar, the incident also resulted in the death of an innocent Mexican citizen.

“We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens,” the ambassador said. “Officials from various US law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots.”

According to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House was closely monitoring the “unacceptable” assault and kidnapping.

“Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals,” she added.

To avoid a major cross-border issue between the two countries, the Mexican government is likely to prioritise locating US citizens.

Mr. López Obrador stated that he spoke with the governor of Tamaulipas about the kidnappings over the weekend.

“I think it will get resolved,” Mr López Obrador said. “That’s what I hope.”

According to reports, three men and one woman were kidnapped in Mexico.

Tamaulipas is one of six states in Mexico that the US state department advises travellers not to visit because of “crime and kidnapping”.

It is regarded as one of Mexico’s most dangerous regions, where drug cartels control much of the territory and frequently wield more power than local law enforcement.

The FBI is appealing for public assistance and offering a $50,000 (£41,620) reward for information leading to the release of the kidnapped Americans and the arrest of the kidnappers.

According to the FBI, the Americans were driving in a van with North Carolina licence plates.

Matamoros is just across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

According to the US State Department, “gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault are common along the northern border,” including in Tamaulipas.

According to the state department, criminal groups have targeted buses and cars travelling through the state, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments in an area where local law enforcement has limited ability to respond to crime.

According to the US government, hundreds of thousands of Americans cross into Mexico each year to receive healthcare services, including prescription drugs. The majority of Americans cite lower costs as the primary reason for seeking treatment abroad.

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