Bloodbath in Mexico: 22 Dead Including 12 Police in One Day of Horror
Mexico was rocked by a brutal wave of violence that claimed at least 22 lives in just one day. Among the dead were 12 police officers, caught in a deadly crossfire across the chaos-hit regions of Guerrero, Michoacan, and Puebla.
Deadliest Massacre in Guerrero
The worst attack struck in Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero state, where gunmen ambushed a municipal police patrol, gunning down 11 officers. This horrific event pushes the staggering number of police killed this year to over 340, according to watchdog group Causa en Comun.
Prosecutor Alejandro Hernandez confirmed an intense probe is underway to unravel the motive behind this savage strike in Guerrero, a poverty-stricken hotspot riddled with violent clashes between drug cartels and law enforcement.
Mayoral Family Targeted in Michoacan
In neighbouring Michoacan, gunmen launched a brutal attack killing five people, including a police officer. The victims included the brother of a local mayor, who was also wounded but survived. Their bodies were found dumped on a highway near Tacambaro, spotlighting the chilling reach of cartel violence.
Gunfight in Puebla Leaves Six Dead
Meanwhile, in rural Puebla, six were killed and two injured in a ferocious gun battle between rival drug gangs. The deadly shootout erupted in San Miguel Canoa, roughly 120km from Mexico City, according to local authorities.
Mexico’s Bloody War on Drugs Rages On
These massacres add to Mexico’s grim toll: since the government’s drug war began in 2006, more than 420,000 people have been murdered. The murder rate has TRIPLED to 25 per 100,000. Over 110,000 disappearances since 1962 are largely blamed on criminal outfits.
Guerrero and Michoacan remain dangerous battlegrounds for violent cartels clashing with police. Experts warn the surge in assassinations of low-level officials is a worrying sign ahead of the presidential elections in June 2024.
“Guerrero has long seen one of Mexico’s most complicated armed conflicts, but the current, pre-electoral levels of violence are extraordinary,” said Falko Ernst, analyst at the International Crisis Group.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” policy, focusing on tackling crime through social programs rather than force, is under fresh fire following this spike in bloodshed.
