MEXICO CITY: Britain’s ambassador to Mexico was faraway from his publish after allegedly pointing an assault rifle inside a automobile carrying embassy workers, reviews mentioned on Friday (Could 31).
The UK authorities mentioned it had taken “acceptable motion” after the incident, with out confirming that Jon Benjamin had been sacked.
Benjamin was on a piece journey to a northwestern Mexican area affected by drug cartel violence when the incident occurred, the Monetary Occasions reported.
“Benjamin, a profession diplomat, was sacked as ambassador quickly after the episode in April,” the newspaper mentioned, quoting unnamed individuals acquainted with the matter.
Overseas officers typically journey with bodyguards when visiting hazard zones in Mexico, it famous.
A video posted by an nameless account on social media platform X this week appeared to indicate the second when Benjamin jokingly pointed the weapon in direction of the rear of the automobile, the place a passenger was seated.
The face of the passenger – described by the Monetary Occasions as a neighborhood embassy worker – sitting within the again seat was blurred out.
“In a context of every day killings in Mexico by drug sellers, he dares to joke,” mentioned the account @subdiplomatic, which additionally complained of alleged mistreatment of Mexican embassy workers.
Round 80 persons are murdered daily within the Latin American nation, giant swaths of that are managed by ultra-violent drug cartels.
When requested concerning the reviews, a UK international ministry spokesperson advised AFP: “We’re conscious of this incident and have taken acceptable motion.”
The British authorities has “sturdy HR processes” to handle “inside points” once they come up, the spokesperson added with out elaborating.
Benjamin was the UK ambassador to Mexico between 2021 and 2024, based on the ministry’s web site.
Based on Benjamin’s LinkedIn account, his posting in Mexico led to Could.
