Armed and masked individuals attacked a public market, leading to the death of nine people.
The incident took place in Toluca, a central city in Mexico, where the attackers began firing and subsequently ignited a section of the market using a flammable liquid. Leaving destruction and death behind, the culprits made a swift exit.
The conduct of private security guards, who reportedly left their posts during the attack, is under investigation by law enforcement officials. Preliminary reports suggest that three of the deceased victims could be minors, although their identities have not been confirmed.
The incident occurred in Toluca, around 40 miles west of Mexico City. Toluca, with its population close to one million, is considered part of Mexico City’s metropolitan area, with many of its residents commuting to the capital city for work. It’s market is the second largest in Mexico, with approximately 26,000 shoppers a day.
It’s common in Mexico for gangs to demand protection money from public market vendors, other times vendors clash with market owners. As per a statement from the State of Mexico prosecutors, it is being investigated whether the Toluca assault is related to disputes over the control of commercial areas within the market.
The latest violence follows recent reports of four taxi drivers’ deaths in the neighboring southern state of Guerrero. Over the past weekend, at least one burnt taxi was found in and around the state capital, Chilpancingo.
Only last week, Toluca was shaken by the discovery of two dismembered bodies, thought to be the handiwork of the ruthless drug cartel Familia Michoacana. The cartel, established in the early 2000s in the neighboring state of Michoacan, has since extended its operations to the State of Mexico and Guerrero.