Rumors about an impending gun battle and cartels threatening to kidnap school children have created panic south of the border in Reynosa.
The El Norte newspaper is reporting that parents have pulled their children early from Reynosa schools based on rumors about an upcoming gun battle.
College students at two universities on the Mexican side of the border reported on Twitter that their classes were cancelled.
Other Twitter users reported that some maquiladoras were allowing employees to go home early.
Customs officials told Action 4 News that all international bridges to Reynosa remain open.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño told The Monitor in McAllen that he received word from an "official intelligence source" that the Mexican army has a middle school surrounded.
Treviño told the newspaper that they believe three or four black SUVs carrying Sinaloa Cartel members has entered Reynosa.
Another report about a low-flying helicopter over local schools and interrupted cell phone service was removed from the En Linea Directa website.
The SDP Noticias website reported that rumors about drug cartels threatening to kidnap schoolchildren if the Mexican army doesn't pull out of the embattled city caused panic on Thursday morning.
The Mexico City-based website reported that the mainstream media refuses to cover incessant gun battles in Reynosa creating a black hole of information and rumors.
SDP Noticias reported that Reynosa residents have turned to social media such as Twitter and YouTube to report the gun battles.
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