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An explosion outside a local police station in the western region Mexican At least two people were killed and seven injured Saturday in Michoacán state, local and federal security officials said.
The blast came as the federal government stepped up security activities by sending additional troops to the state following two recent high-profile murders.
Hector Zepeda, commander of the Coahuyana community police, said Saturday that two of his police officers were killed in the explosion and that civilians were also among the injured. He said some victims were found away from the blast site, which also caused damage to nearby buildings.
“A lot of Marines (from the federal government) came with this operation,” Zepeda said. “We stopped patrolling because the operation is going on.”
Community police, which patrol various rural communities, are remnants of civilian vigilante forces that took up arms more than a decade ago to protect communities from drug cartels, and were then formalized by the state.
near cohuayana Calm The coast in western Michoacán and borders Colima state, which is home to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Saturday’s explosion occurred while Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedola was inside Mexico City to celebrate with the president claudia sheinbaum The anniversary of his Morena party coming to power seven years ago.
Ramírez Bedola and Sheinbaum have been criticized for the deteriorating security situation in Michoacán, where multiple drug cartels are fighting for control of the area while terrorizing locals.
At least three of the six drug cartels trump Designated as terrorist organizations by the administration – the Jalisco New Generation, the United Cartels and the New Michoacán Families – operate here in addition to several domestic armed splinter groups, some of which are supported by the Sinaloa Cartel.
Explosives dropped by drones, planted as mines or planted on roadsides are increasingly being used by criminal groups operating in the state. Last year, around 3,000 explosive devices were seized in the state, compared to 160 in 2022. According to the state security agency, more than 2,000 explosive devices have been seized so far this year.
Michoacán is a major importer of chemical precursors for synthetic drugs. Over the past two months, 17 drug laboratories there were destroyed by Mexican authorities. The state also produces avocados exported to the US and is a major producer of limes, areas extorted by the cartel for years.
The state government said in a statement Saturday that an “explosive device” was responsible, but did not provide details. Images circulated online showed a completely burnt vehicle.
Last month, Sheinbaum sent 2,000 troops, in addition to 4,300 permanent troops and 4,000 from neighboring states, to Michoacán after the assassination of a vocal representative of citrus growers and a popular mayor who stood up against the cartel.