MEXICO CITY — Twelve people were killed in a series of coordinated and near-simultaneous attacks in the violence-wracked city of Salamanca, authorities in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato said Friday.
The victims were found Thursday at multiple points across the refinery city of over 200,000. In at least one case, a banner signed by a drug cartel was left with some of the bodies.
The massacre is the latest episode in a wave of violence in Salamanca, west of the state’s capital Guanajuato, where gunmen killed four men and wounded two others in an attack at a drug rehabilitation center late Tuesday.
Authorities said there are no clear suspects and they continue to investigate.
The industrial and agricultural state of Guanajuato has for years been the scene of a bloody turf battle between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and a local gang, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. Guanajuato has the highest number of homicides of any state in Mexico.
Security analyst David Saucedo said that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has control of urban areas, while Santa Rosa de Lima controls rural ones, but they continue to fight for control of cities like Salamanca.
“There’s been a presence of the National Guard but (the violence) hasn’t stopped,” he said. “Salamanca has a very complicated situation.”
Saucedo said that Salamanca has had three different police directors in the last three years, noting a lack of capability to take on the organized crime groups.
Salamanca Mayor César Prieto Gallardo was quoted in the media as saying that city and state authorities are working in a coordinated manner. “Unfortunately,” he said, “This is a conflict between delinquent groups. The civil population has nothing to do with this.”
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Twelve individuals were tragically killed in a series of coordinated attacks in a violent Mexican city, highlighting the ongoing struggle with crime and violence in the region. The attacks, which took place in broad daylight, shocked the community and raised concerns about the safety and security of residents.
According to local authorities, the attacks were carried out by members of a notorious drug cartel that has been operating in the area for years. The victims, who were all believed to have been targeted for their alleged involvement in rival criminal organizations, were brutally gunned down in separate incidents across the city.
The violence in this Mexican city is not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of the larger issue of organized crime and drug trafficking that plagues the country. Despite efforts by law enforcement to crack down on these criminal groups, they continue to operate with impunity, terrorizing communities and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
The impact of these attacks extends far beyond the immediate victims and their families. The fear and insecurity that result from such violence can have a lasting impact on the mental health and well-being of an entire community. Residents are left feeling vulnerable and powerless, unsure of when or where the next attack may occur.
In response to these tragic events, local authorities have vowed to increase security measures and step up efforts to combat organized crime in the area. However, many residents remain skeptical of these promises, as similar pledges have been made in the past without significant results.
The violence in this Mexican city serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by communities across the country in dealing with the scourge of organized crime. It is a call to action for government officials at all levels to prioritize the safety and security of their citizens and work towards finding long-term solutions to address the root causes of violence and crime.
As the community mourns the loss of the twelve individuals who were senselessly killed in these coordinated attacks, it is imperative that their deaths are not in vain. Their memory should serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring renewed efforts to create a safer and more secure environment for all residents of this troubled city.
