The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, dismissed the idea of categorizing the recent violent acts committed by drug traffickers in the country as "terrorism." This occurred after a car bomb exploded, leaving three police officers injured and causing the deaths of 19 people in clashes between criminals and security forces. Two police officers died in a shootout with alleged criminals in the state of Guerrero, the government confirmed, while military forces killed 17 gunmen who attacked them in a subsequent operation.
Sheinbaum clarified that these acts cannot be classified as terrorism and indicated that she will differentiate between "terrorism" and "organized crime" in an upcoming government report on security. Sheinbaum's stance seems to align with that of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who warned that labeling cartels as terrorists could facilitate a U.S. intervention in Mexico.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch explained that the recent attacks in the state of Guanajuato appear to be linked to disputes between cartels and attempts to intimidate authorities. Guerrero and Guanajuato are two of the states most affected by criminal violence in Mexico, with territorial disputes and struggles between gangs for control of drug trafficking.
Sheinbaum, who recently assumed office, rejects the strategy of direct confrontation with the cartels and proposes addressing the root causes of criminality, as well as improving the use of intelligence in security operations. Mexico has been the scene of over 450,000 murders since late 2006, when the fight against the mafias intensified with military involvement.
In another incident, a car bomb exploded outside a police base in Guanajuato, injuring three officers. Eleven suspects were arrested in connection with this attack.
