In a recent incident in Acambaro, Mexico, a car bomb left outside a police station has resulted in three people being wounded, as reported by prosecutors in the state of Guanajuato. Additionally, another explosion occurred in the nearby town of Jerecuaro, although no injuries were reported.
The near-simultaneous attacks in these two towns, happening about 30 minutes apart, point towards the involvement of drug cartels that have been engaged in violent turf battles in Guanajuato for an extended period.
Despite the escalating violence, President Claudia Sheinbaum, who recently took office, has reiterated her commitment to the 'hugs, not bullets' approach initiated by her predecessor. Sheinbaum has instructed the army to avoid direct confrontations with the cartels, emphasizing a desire to avoid a return to a full-scale war against the narcos.
However, the situation on the ground indicates a different reality, with the administration already facing challenges from cartels in various states, just weeks after Sheinbaum assumed office.
The car bomb in Acambaro was of significant magnitude, evident from the debris scattered across the street outside the police station. The explosion caused damage to nearby homes, shattering windows and doors.
This incident marks the most serious car-bomb attack against authorities in Mexico since June 2023 when a National Guard officer was killed by a car bomb in Celaya, Guanajuato. In a separate incident in July 2023, a drug cartel in Jalisco orchestrated a series of roadway bombs that resulted in the deaths of four police officers and two civilians. The use of car bombs and improvised explosive devices underscores the increasingly militaristic challenge posed by the country's drug cartels.
Sheinbaum's commitment to the non-confrontational approach mirrors that of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who advocated for reduced violence and offered programs to dissuade young individuals from joining cartels. However, despite these efforts, Mexico continues to grapple with persistently high levels of homicides.
