Mexico Horror: In a tragic incident, 10 people, including children, were killed and several others injured in a mass shooting on Tuesday night in Irapuato, a city in Mexico’s Guanajuato state. Local officials confirmed the attack, which reportedly occurred during a religious celebration.

“According to preliminary data, 10 people lost their lives and several more were injured by firearm projectiles,” Irapuato’s municipal civil security office said in a statement posted on social media.

Security forces have launched a manhunt for the attackers, who fled the scene in a damaged van. The Guanajuato attorney general’s office confirmed the fatalities and revealed that cartel-style banners were left near the crime scene, a chilling hallmark of Mexico’s organised crime violence.

Gang Violence Grips Guanajuato

The attack underscores the grim reality in Guanajuato, now considered Mexico’s deadliest state. In 2024 alone, more than 3,150 homicides have been recorded, over 10 per cent of the national total. The violence is largely attributed to a bloody turf war between two powerful drug cartels: the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The CJNG has been labeled a terrorist organisation by the US government.

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Although Guanajuato is known for its vibrant industrial base and popular tourist sites, it has become a focal point of Mexico’s cartel-fueled violence. This conflict has turned once-peaceful towns like Irapuato into war zones.

National Outrage And Condemnation

President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the attack during her morning press briefing, calling it “deplorable” and confirming that children were among those killed. “It is an appalling multiple homicide, and an investigation is being carried out,” she said.

The local government issued a statement expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. “The municipality of Irapuato condemns the violence and expresses its solidarity with the relatives and citizens affected by this cowardly act,” the statement read.

Mexico’s Catholic bishops also spoke out, warning of a “weakening social fabric” and urging rival gangs to declare a truce, especially after recent attacks on police, rehab centers, and civilian gatherings.

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Criminal violence in Mexico, largely tied to drug trafficking and organised crime, has claimed nearly 480,000 lives since 2006. More than 120,000 people remain missing.

While authorities have vowed justice, communities across Guanajuato continue to live under the shadow of fear. The latest massacre serves as another grim reminder of the urgent need to restore security and rule of law in Mexico’s most violent region.