MEXICO CITY — Gunmen launched a deadly attack at a Christmas party in the town of Salvatierra, located in Mexico’s north-central state of Guanajuato, killing twelve people, according to state prosecutors. The deadly incident happened early Sunday morning.
Reports from local media suggest that the victims in Salvatierra were leaving an event hall after a Christmas party known as a “posada” when they were targeted and shot.
Guanajuato has been the site of violent clashes between the Jalisco cartel and local gangs supported by the Sinaloa cartel. The state has consistently experienced the highest number of homicides in Mexico.
Meanwhile, an attack at a bar in the Caribbean coast resort of Tulum left three men dead and four others injured, authorities stated.
Preliminary investigations by Quintana Roo state prosecutors suggest that the shooting in Tulum may have been related to a dispute over retail drug sales. However, previous instances of shootouts between local drug gangs in the area have resulted in the deaths of tourists caught in the crossfire.
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert, cautioning visitors to “exercise increased situational awareness,” particularly after dark, in Mexico’s Caribbean beach resorts such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.
It is crucial to remain vigilant as Mexican authorities continue to investigate these incidents and work toward ensuring the safety of both locals and tourists in the affected areas.