MEXICO: Mexico is facing a growing wave of cartel-linked bomb attacks, with car bombs, explosive-laden drones and landmines increasingly being used against police, security forces and communities.
The latest blast struck Sunday in Zacatecas state, where a suspected car bomb exploded outside a police headquarters in Ojocaliente, injuring at least 11 people, including two police officers, and damaging about 40 buildings. Gov. David Monreal said the attacks have intensified as criminal groups adopt increasingly dangerous tactics.
The vehicle had been left outside the police headquarters before the explosion. Videos shared on social media appeared to show flames rising into the air as people, including children, ran from the area.
Monreal said initial information indicated that a criminal group may have carried out the attack in response to the arrest of one of its members a day earlier.
The explosion has added to concerns about the changing tactics of organized crime groups in Mexico. Zacatecas has recorded a sharp rise in such incidents in recent years, according to state security chief Arturo Medina. Authorities recorded one attack of this type in 2024, six in 2025 and 10 so far this year, Medina said Monday.
“Organized crime is evolving,” Monreal said at a news conference, warning that the country may not yet fully understand the scale of the threat.
The recent violence is not limited to Zacatecas. Other states, including Michoacan, have also experienced attacks involving explosives. Criminal groups have used such weapons against security facilities, law enforcement personnel and local communities.
The violence has raised questions about how criminal groups are obtaining and using increasingly sophisticated weapons. This violence marks a significant shift from more traditional forms of cartel violence and presents new challenges for authorities.
Mexico’s federal government has yet to publicly comment on the broader pattern of explosive attacks. For residents in affected areas, the latest blast has renewed concerns about safety as criminal groups continue to adapt their methods and expand the reach of organized violence.
