Massacre During Soccer Match in Salamanca, Mexico
On Sunday, armed attackers launched a deadly assault at a soccer match in Salamanca, located in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, resulting in 11 fatalities and 12 injuries.
According to reports from the Mexican newspaper El Universal, the violent incident occurred at a soccer field in the Loma de Flores neighborhood when gunmen stormed the stadium and opened fire on attendees during the event.
Salamanca’s Mayor, Cesar Prieto Gallardo, stated that 10 individuals were killed on-site, while another succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
Reports from the Argentine outlet Infobae, citing the Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office, indicated that the injured included women and young children, with six of those hurt requiring ongoing medical observation.
Milenio noted that the assailants arrived at around 5:30 p.m. in multiple trucks and began shooting indiscriminately, even with children present. Some attendees managed to escape, but many were left behind on the soccer field.
Authorities found over 100 spent shell casings from high-powered firearms at the scene, and investigations are still underway.
The events of Sunday were preceded by a flare of violence in Salamanca over the weekend, where five men were reportedly killed in various incidents on Saturday afternoon. Additionally, later that evening, four bags containing bodies were discovered in the San Antonio de Flores community.
Mayor Prieto Gallardo remarked, “This incident, unfortunately, adds to the ongoing violence we are witnessing in the state, particularly in Salamanca.” He called upon Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guanajuato Governor Livia García to assist in restoring peace and security to the area.
Guanajuato is often viewed as one of Mexico’s most dangerous regions, with the U.S. State Department currently issuing a “Level 3” travel advisory. This advisory urges Americans to reconsider travel to Guanajuato due to the prevalence of crime and threats of violence from various criminal organizations.
The advisory highlights that gang violence primarily occurs in central and southern regions of Guanajuato and is frequently linked to oil and gas theft. The southern area has seen an increase in homicides associated with cartel-related activities.
Recently, explosives accompanied by threatening messages were discovered at the entrance of the state-run Pemex refinery in Salamanca. Fortunately, a specialized military team was able to secure and safely dispose of the explosive device.
