(C) Daily Sabah

SALAMANCA, Mexico — A festive atmosphere at a local football pitch turned into a scene of carnage on Sunday evening as gunmen opened fire on players and spectators, leaving at least 11 people dead and 12 others wounded. The attack took place in Salamanca, a city in the central state of Guanajuato, which has become the epicenter of Mexico’s escalating drug cartel wars.

Details of the Attack
According to local authorities, the incident occurred on January 25, just as a football match was drawing to a close. Witnesses reported that armed men arrived at the sports complex in multiple vehicles, stormed the field, and began firing indiscriminately into the crowd.

Salamanca Mayor César Prieto confirmed the casualties via social media, stating that 10 individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, while an eleventh victim succumbed to injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital. Among the 12 wounded are a woman and a minor, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.

"This attack is a grim reflection of the surging crime levels we are facing in Salamanca," Mayor Prieto said. He issued an urgent plea to President Claudia Sheinbaum, calling for federal intervention and increased military presence to regain control over the region.

A State Under Siege
Guanajuato has earned the grim distinction of being Mexico’s most violent state. While the country as a whole has seen some fluctuations in crime statistics, Guanajuato remains locked in a brutal turf war between two of the nation's most powerful criminal organizations:

Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel: A local criminal group that initially focused on fuel theft (huachicol) but has since diversified into extortion and drug trafficking.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG): One of the world’s most dangerous paramilitary criminal organizations, seeking to expand its hegemony over central Mexico.
The strategic location of Guanajuato, with its industrial hubs and major energy pipelines, makes it a high-value territory for these syndicates. The resulting violence has frequently spilled into public spaces, including bars, markets, and now, community sports venues.

The Political and Social Fallout
The timing of this massacre poses a significant challenge for the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum. While the federal government recently reported that Mexico’s homicide rate dropped to 17.5 per 100,000 residents last year—the lowest since 2016—independent analysts warn that these figures may be misleading.

Critics point out that the official data often excludes the thousands of people reported "missing" or "disappeared," a number that continues to rise. Furthermore, the brazen nature of the Salamanca shooting suggests that criminal groups feel emboldened to challenge the state's authority directly.

"Unfortunately, criminal organizations are trying to bring the authorities to their knees," Mayor Prieto remarked during his address. "But they will not succeed."

Security Response
The Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office announced that it is currently coordinating with federal security forces to conduct a forensic investigation and bolster security in the Salamanca area. However, no arrests have been made as of Monday evening, and the suspects remain at large.

For the residents of Salamanca, the tragedy has left a community in shock, transforming a place of recreation and local pride into a site of mourning. As the investigation continues, the massacre serves as a stark reminder of the long road ahead for Mexico’s security strategy.