At least one of the 43 Mexican students who had gone missing in Guerrero state has been identified by forensic experts after charred remains were found in a garbage dump and river in Guerrero, a Mexican official said Saturday, adding that he could not provide any further details.
A family member of the victim confirmed that the remains identified belonged to Alexander Mora, the Associated Press reported. A team of forensic experts informed the family about the discovery, the relative said, agreeing to release the information only if granted anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
On Sept. 26-27, Iguala city police attacked a group of students rallying to protest against government policies. Six people were killed, more than two dozen injured and more than 50 students vanished. About 15 eventually were found hiding in their homes, but 43 remained missing, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Aytozinapa Normal school, attended by the missing students, was known for militant and radical protests that often involved hijacking buses and delivery trucks, according to Fox News.
Within days, 22 police officers were arrested for what prosecutors said was the unjustifiable use of excessive force. They are believed to have been penetrated by criminal organizations and a drug gang, known as the Guerreros Unidos, at whose behest the police might have been acting. Later in the investigation, it was alleged that the police had also acted under orders of the former Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife.
Then, earlier in November, suspected gang members reportedly confessed that the 43 Mexican students were loaded onto dump trucks, murdered at a landfill, burned beyond recognition and tossed into the San Juan River in Cocul.
The students' disappearance, which triggered widespread protests across Mexico against corruption and violence, has also dropped President Enrique Pena Nieto's popularity rating, whose government has been accused of waiting too long to investigate.
In response, he has submitted a package of reforms to Congress that include replacing all 1,800 municipal police forces with state-level units, BBC News reported.
Meanwhile, a demonstration was scheduled to be held on Saturday in Mexico City at which parents of students were expected to speak about the identification.
