Teotihuacan Reopens with National Guard Surge; Pyramid of the Moon Stays Closed Pending Security Review

The Teotihuacán archaeological zone reopened at 8:00 AM on April 22, two days after gunman Julio César Jasso Ramírez killed a Canadian tourist and injured 13 others from the Pyramid of the Moon. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) confirmed in an official bulletin that the complex was open to the public with reinforced security: National Guard troops stationed at all access points, heightened vehicle screening, and three tiers of government security coordination (federal–state–municipal). However, the Pyramid of the Moon remained closed indefinitely pending a safety infrastructure review and the installation of physical access controls. The adjacent Pyramid of the Sun, which has been closed to climbing since 2020, continues under existing restrictions. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, speaking at the April 22 mañanera alongside President Sheinbaum, announced a nationwide archaeological site security overhaul: a deployment of over 100,000 security forces and 2,000+ military vehicles, aircraft, and drones across Mexico's three FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey). Evaluation of metal detectors and X-ray arches at high-traffic heritage sites is underway. Sheinbaum reiterated the event was 'an isolated incident' and said Mexico's safety record for the 16 million foreign tourists who visited in January–February 2026 demonstrates the country's overall security. Canada updated its travel advisory for tourists visiting Mexican archaeological zones. UNESCO's World Heritage advisory team signaled it would monitor security measures at Teotihuacán — a site with over 3 million visitors annually.