UK ambassador left put up after 'pointing gun at workforce' – BBC Information

Symbol supply, X/@subdiplomaticImage caption, Within the video, a person comparable to Jon Benjamin may also be noticed aiming a gun at other folks in a carArticle informationAuthor, Will GrantRole, Mexico and Central The usa correspondentReporting from Mexico1 hour agoThe UK ambassador to Mexico reportedly left his put up previous this 12 months after he pointed a gun at an area member of embassy workforce.A video posted on social media, at first reported by means of the Monetary Instances, purports to turn Jon Benjamin aiming a rifle at some other guy whilst taking a look down the weapon’s points of interest.It was once captioned: “In [the] context of day by day killings in Mexico by means of drug sellers, he dares to shaggy dog story.”Mr Benjamin hasn’t commented to this point on what seems to had been a badly out of place shaggy dog story. No reputable announcement about Mr Benjamin’s place has been made by means of the United Kingdom International, Commonwealth and Building Place of business (FCDO). However he’s now not indexed as ambassador to Mexico at the govt’s reputable site, which says he was once in put up “between 2021 and 2024”.Within the video, a person comparable to Mr Benjamin may also be noticed shifting a weapon across the automobile, aiming it at other other folks. Laughter may also be heard within the background. One guy is noticed gesturing uncomfortably because the weapon is geared toward him.Mr Benjamin arrived in Mexico from earlier postings together with Ghana and Chile with a name as somewhat unconventional by means of the factors of maximum UK diplomats. He was once very lively on social media with a big following on X. He may well be somewhat outspoken, every so often immediately answering fans on problems he was once enthusiastic about – in particular African politics, soccer and rock tune. It was once a part of a extra approachable, much less stuffy character than that conveyed by means of different ambassadors.In Mexico, as in maximum of his earlier postings, Mr Benjamin was once a company believer within the function of the cushy energy of British rock and indie tune. An avid tune fan himself, he inspired primary UK bands and artists to discuss with Mexico, every so often web hosting them in his place of dwelling forward in their live shows. For many years, as an example, he was once the Rolling Stones’ leader level of touch inside the FCDO, serving to the supergroup to barter the tangled forms of acting are living occasions all over the world.He at all times gave the impression fascinated and well-engaged in Mexico from the beginning of his posting in 2021, travelling to lots of its 32 states. It was once on a type of journeys, to the drug-cartel managed states of Sinaloa and Durango, that the incident along with his workforce came about.Over 30,000 other folks have been murdered in Mexico remaining 12 months. The rustic has extraordinarily restrictive gun regulations, and is house to just one gun store, housed in a Mexico Town army advanced.That the ambassador was once noticed to brandish a gun at his staff amid such a lot of annual murders from drug-related violence in Mexico has struck much more of a nerve a few of the embassy workforce affected – and lots of Mexicans.Despite the fact that supposed as a shaggy dog story, that it came about with an it appears loaded system gun in probably the most unhealthy areas of Mexico was once a major miscalculation.What was once meant to be a regimen go back and forth to northern Mexico has reputedly introduced an ignominious finish to an excessively lengthy and differently outstanding occupation within the FCDO.The FCDO advised the Monetary Instances: “We’re conscious about this incident and feature taken suitable motion.”The place interior problems do get up the FCDO has tough HR processes to handle them.”The BBC has contacted Mr Benjamin and the FCDO for remark.

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