GUADALAJARA, Mexico: An “unprecedented” explosive attack in the Mexican state of Jalisco killed three police officers and injured 10 others on Tuesday, the state governor claimed.
State prosecutor officials suffered a cowardly attack with exploding devices, which initially caused the death of three employees from the municipal police and the Prosecutor’s Office, as well as 10 people injured,” stated Governor Enrique Alfaro on Twitter. The governor continued, “This is an exceptional event that demonstrated the might of these organized crime organizations. This strike also poses a threat to the rest of the Mexican state.
The Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of Mexico’s most potent drug trafficking organizations, maintains activities in the western state, is present throughout the nation, and is involved in conflicts with other drug cartels. Alfaro claimed that the security cabinet of Jalisco was “in permanent session” to look into the attack, which has not been linked to a specific gang.
According to reports by the regional network Televisa, the explosion reportedly happened close to the security personnel’s moving truck. Although car bombings are uncommon in Mexico, one occurred in Guanajuato, another state severely affected by cartel-related violence, in June, killing one National Guard member and injuring several others. Tuesday also saw the release of 13 security officers held hostage the day before by demonstrators in the southern state of Guerrero.
According to officials, a criminal organization infiltrated the demonstrators. Years of conflict between drug cartels for territory have left Guerrero traumatized. More than 340,000 deaths and about 100,000 disappearances have been reported in Mexico since the start of a contentious military anti-drug drive in 2006, most of which have been linked to organized crime.
