Seven men were killed in a shootout that took place yesterday in the square in San Bartolo de Berrios, municipality of San Felipe, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
Police found the bodies of the victims next to a damaged van, as well as two messages linked to the “Santa Rosa de Lima“ drug cartel - one of the active criminal organizations in the region.
The state of Guanajuato, located in the central part of the country, is known for its industrial and tourist importance, as well as for its high level of violence. The region is embroiled in a fierce power struggle between rival drug cartels, including the Jalisco New Generation, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.
The Mexican Episcopal Conference, the country's highest Roman Catholic body, condemned the violence, saying it was "deeply saddened and disturbed by the impunity and lack of peace in vast areas of our country."
In 2024, the state of Guanajuato was named the deadliest in Mexico, with 3,151 murders recorded - about 10.5% of all homicides in the country.