NORTH AMERICA

Mexico (Security threat level – 4): During the evening hours of 18 August 2022, suspected members of organized crime groups set fire to vehicles parked on streets in the neighborhoods of Magisterial and Villa de Alvarez in the Colima metropolitan area, located in western Mexico. Local media report that the criminals would douse vehicles with gasoline, ignite them, then flee the scene. The gunmen also opened fire on a convenience store located at the intersection of Maclovio Herrera and Corregidora streets. There were no immediate reports of casualties connected to these events. Local authorities believe the capture of the leader of the Colima Independent Cartel hours earlier in Mexico City precipitated the violence.

United States (Security threat level – 2): At approximately 1500 local time (2200 UTC) on 18 August 2022, two light aircraft collided midair over Northern California’s Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI/WVI), located approximately 85 mi (135 km) south of San Francisco. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a single-engine Cessna 152 aircraft with one person aboard collided with a twin-engine Cessna 340 that had two people aboard during their final approaches to land at the facility. One aircraft crashed into a hangar following the collision. All three people were killed in the crash but there were no casualties on the ground. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating to determine the cause of the crash.

GOVERNMENT WARNINGS

Burkina Faso (Security threat level – 4): On 18 August 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: “Demonstrations are expected in Ouagadougou at the French Embassy on Friday, August 19. As of August 18, the demonstration time is not known.

“Following the demonstration on August 12, Mouvement M30 Naaba Wobgo has called for a demonstration every Friday until their demands are met. Burkinabe authorities have not granted a permit for this demonstration. Expect roadblocks or large groups of demonstrators in downtown Ouagadougou and surrounding areas.”