The students had previously attempted to make their way to the state capital Chilpancingo, but state and federal authorities blocked the routes there.[47] In Iguala, the students had plans to solicit transportation costs to Mexico City, approximately 295 km away, for the anniversary march of the 1968 student massacre in Tlatelolco.[5] However, on their way there, the students were intercepted by the Iguala municipal police force at around 9:30 pm, reportedly on orders of the mayor.[48][49]