Another Attack with Explosives in Guanajuato; This Time in San Miguel de Allende

Translated by Chuck B Alamada for Borderland Beat from a Sinembargo article
Written by Roberto Gutierrez Torres (Sinembargo)  Monday, 5 September, 2016

A new explosion was reported on Monday September 5, 2016 outside a local business in the center of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. A month ago, another explosion was reported inside a local bar, El Sotano where an explosive device was placed in a backpack. During that incident, the explosive device was left on a stage and one person was injured as a result. On the latest explosion in the center of San Miguel, the investigative authorities confirmed that they located evidence of an explosive substance

MEXICO CITY/ SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE- Authorities confirmed an explosion in the early hours of Monday September, 5, 2016 outside a local business in the center of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The attack with explosives took place between two bars, El Limerick and El Adelitas. So far in September, there have been at least 3 other attacks with explosives in different cities of Guanajuato. Exactly a month ago, another attack with explosives took place in San Miguel de Allende inside El Sotano bar. During that incident, an explosive device inside a backpack was detonated on the stage where the music band was playing. Property was extensively damaged and one person was injured as a result of that explosion.

Photo courtesy of sinembargo.

San Miguel de Allende is an important tourist hub in Guanjato and Mexico in general. Additionally, it is the home of thousands of foreign citizens that decided to move to this picturesque town due to its tranquility, good weather, and excellent services. September is a month in which San Miguel de Allende fills up with tourists (Mexican and foreign) due to the independence festivities. This community which lived in peace for many years is also the destination for many retired Mexicans.

The result of this latest attack is five people injured; two with serious injuries (chest, arms, and legs) and two with hearing problems, dizziness, and a woman that suffered a panic attack. Additionally, at least 15 businesses suffered damages as well as three vehicles that were parked outside on Canal, Umaran and Zacateros streets. The investigative agency reported that the explosion was caused by an unknown device with an explosive substance. There was clear evidence of the device and unknown substance outside the business where the explosion took place. As of now, investigators believe that the explosive device is homemade and that it contained explosives inside a container or bag. Specialized investigators performed chemical tests to determine exactly what caused the explosion.

Witnesses said that approximately at 2:00AM they heard a loud explosion followed by a cloud of smoke that was visible in the sky. They also reported seeing broken glass throughout the streets of Umaran and Zacateros, they also added that the door to the business was destroyed as well as damaged vehicles on the street. Civil Protection Units along with firefighters responded to the scene after the explosion.   

Another attack with explosives was perpetrated on Friday, September 2, 2015 near a beer depot in Abasalo, Guanajuato and three days prior, an additional two explosive attacks were committed outside businesses also in Abasolo. The attacks took place outside Tortilleria Fuentes and Don Poncho convenience store. The tortilleria is located on Bugambilias steet while the convenience store is located at the corner of this same street with Margaritas street in the Margaritas neighborhood. Right across from these two businesses is where the construction of government office is taking place. Per witnesses, unknown subjects in a Chevy vehicle drove by incident location and threw out the explosive devices. According to the preliminary investigations by the Military, it is believed that the subjects used Molotov cocktails.

Guanajuato state recorded 95 murders in the month of August which brings the annual murders to 625 in the state. The most violent deaths have taken place during the past four months (354 murders in those 4 months). At least, 10 of those deaths took place in Penjamo and Acambaro 4 days prior to the implementation of the Mando Unico Regional Police (single command) in that area headed by General Felipe Gurrola Martinez. Despite the multiple murders in the state, General Gurola Martinez has denied to the media that there is a dominant cartel in Guanajuato and added that the violence is only due to small cells. 

Days after the discovery of 10 bodies, Guanajuato State Attorney, Carlos Zamarripa Aguirre assured that at least four of the victims were from Michoacan and that their bodies were only dropped in Penjamo; possibly due to the lack of police presence in that area. Additionally, he assured that Guanajuato’s government would increase security in the area and would work with the authorities in Michoacan to prevent these types of incidents from happening. Despite this, September has started with death and tragic discoveries in Penjamo. A man and a woman were found in the truck of a vehicle after police responded to a call regarding an abandoned vehicle on a state road near the communities of Tacabaya and El Huizache.

The two bodies were in the trunk of a Cadillac vehicle bearing Michoacan tags. Although the man did not show any obvious gunshot wounds, his hands and feet were tied. The woman had several gunshot wounds about the torso and had been dead between six and eight hours when they were found. A day after (Friday September 2, 2016) two more bodies were found in that same region. One of the bodies was found in a field in the community of Novilleros while the second was found in a house in the community of Padrera de Gala; both in Abasolo and both bodies showed signs of decomposition.