At least 12 people were killed on Monday in an armed attack during a celebration in the city of Salvatierra in the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico, where hundreds of young people were participating, according to local authorities.
The Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office, in a region known for high levels of violence due to the presence of criminal gangs, has confirmed 12 fatalities so far.
Authorities also mentioned that dozens of injured individuals were transported to hospitals. Local media reported that the attack occurred at the San Jose del Carmen farm, which had been rented for hosting events.
Security forces surrounded the site, where cars were set on fire, according to France Presse.
An attendee at the event, who requested not to be identified, stated that six attackers armed with firearms arrived at the location and began firing when questioned about their identity.
The event was a gathering of friends.
On Facebook, a member of the Tierra Negra foundation, which supports social projects in Salvatierra, wrote that the victims “were all young people we know, good people. What is happening in Salvatierra is terrifying.”
In recent years, Guanajuato has witnessed attacks like this one and currently has the highest number of homicides among Mexican states since the beginning of the year, with 3,029 deaths according to official figures.
In 2020, mass graves containing at least 50 bodies were discovered in Salvatierra, a city with a population of 90,000.
This region, which hosts a thriving industrial center, has become a battleground for disputes between the Santa Rosa de Lima group and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, involved in drug trafficking, oil theft, and other crimes.
Official figures indicate that over 420,000 people have been killed in Mexico, most of them victims of criminal activities, since December 2006 when the federal government launched a controversial military operation to combat drug trafficking.
