A group of militants broke into Mexico's local city hall in broad daylight and fired, killing 20 people. The mayor, former mayor, and public security director of the city all died on the spot.

(Observer.com ) A group of militants broke into the local town hall of Mexico in broad daylight and fired, killing 20 people.

The attackers parked large vehicles on the surrounding highways and ignited blockade roads, town hall windows were shattered and bullet holes were everywhere in the walls.

This is a vicious shooting incident that took place on October 5 in the city of San Miguel Totorapan, Guerrero, southern Mexico.

The mayor, former mayor and public security director of the city all died on the spot. This is also the 18th mayor to die in the attack since current Mexican President Lopez came to power in 2018.

Associated Press report screenshot

Mexico's " Cosmic " said that the attack occurred around 1:30 pm local time on the 5th, when officials in San Miguel Totolapan were holding a working meeting. It was confirmed by the family of the deceased that 20 people including the city's mayor Conrado Mendoza, former mayor Juan Mendoza, and Public Security Director Freddy Martinez Suyaso were killed in the attack.

Microsoftware, Deputy Minister of Public Safety of Mexico, said that there have been violent clashes between local criminal groups Los Tequileros and the "Michoacana", and the attack may be related to the fight between the two gangs.

Mexia mentioned that a man who claimed to be a member of the "Tequila" gang uploaded a video after the attack, declaring responsibility for the attack, and the Mexican security department is verifying the authenticity of the video. He added that the Mexican army and National Guard have stepped into the area.

Mexican authorities have not yet been able to determine the real identity of the attacker. Guerrero State Attorney General Sandra Luz Valdovinos said that no one has been arrested for the attack now, "there is not enough evidence to determine who is responsible for it."

Bullet-marked San Miguel-Toropan City Hall Building from Pengpai Image

AFP pointed out that as one of the poorest areas in Mexico, criminal groups in Guerrero State are extremely rampant, and violent conflicts surrounding drug production and trafficking and territorial territories continue. Among them, the area where San Miguel Totorapan is located is on a drug transportation route and is being fought over by multiple drug trafficking groups.

Mezia introduced that the city of San Miguel-Toropan was once under the rule of the "Tequila" organization, which is mainly engaged in drug smuggling and distribution, and carries out kidnapping, extortion and murder in the area.

Mexican media noticed that former mayor Juan Mendoza, who died in the attack, had contacted the "Tequila" organization during his tenure. Mexico's Northern Daily reported that Juan Mendoza was exposed to privately meeting the leader of the organization Rebel Jacob de Almonte when he was running for mayor in 2015. In a video circulating at the time, he promised members of the organization: "I won't let you down."

But The Universe pointed out that shortly after becoming mayor, Juan Mendoza also tried to crack down on the forces of the "Tequila" organization and organized a self-defense group called the "Peace Movement" in 2016. In December 2016, after several residents were kidnapped by "Tequila", local people quickly organized themselves and in turn kidnapped Almont's mother and eventually forced "Tequila" to release people.

Mexia said that after the organization leader Almont was killed in 2018, "Tequila" withdrew from the small town. He admitted that the Mexican authorities originally thought the organization's power had been greatly weakened, but their power seemed to have "come back" recently. The Cosmic mentioned that authorities speculated that Almont died in a violent clash in July 2018, but his body was never found.

Mexia also added that the investigation also involved another notorious local criminal group, the Michoacan family, which is clashing with the "Tequila" and may also be responsible for the attack.

Mexican soldiers are guarding the San Miguel Totorapan City Hall pictured from The Paper

In addition, the Cosmos mentioned that on October 5, a shooting occurred in Morelos, close to Guerrero, and state assemblyman Gabriela Marin was killed in the parking lot of a pharmacy in Cuernavaca, the capital of the state. Mexia said when talking about the case that the assassination cannot be ruled out that it is related to political motives.

The Associated Press pointed out that attacks on Mexican public officials have been common in recent years. According to statistics from Mexican consulting firm Etellekt Consultores, 18 Mexican mayors and eight state legislators have been killed in the shooting on the 5th in the nearly four years under the current Mexican President Lopez.

At the time of Guerrero shootings, Lopez is actively promoting a new security strategy in an attempt to make the armed forces take responsibility for maintaining Mexican policing.

The Associated Press said that the Mexican parliament had passed Lopez's proposal last month to hand over the National Guard to the Mexican military control, and lawmakers are now debating around Lopez's proposal to extend the military's policing duties to 2028. Lopez promises that he will continue to promote the current security strategy and allow the armed forces to participate in maintaining public safety, "because this has brought about results."

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