Car Bomb Destroys Municipal Police Headquarters in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

A large explosion severely damaged the Municipal Police headquarters in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas on Sunday, August 30, leaving at least eight civilians and two police officers injured. This is the third explosive attack against security forces in Zacatecas this week.

Videos and photos show how the Municipal Police headquarters was damaged by the blast. Fire spread quickly to neighboring buildings and trees. The following morning the government reported that 11 private vehicles, two patrol cars and buildings located in the vicinity were destroyed. 

The state government initially reported that the explosion was caused by a thrown explosive, but it was later clarified that the explosive was inside a car. According to Zacatecas authorities, the attack was likely perpetrated by the CJNG.

The City Council suspended classes and public service in municipal offices for Monday following the attack. 

Photos and video: Paco Elizondo

Photos: Ángel Martínez 

Photo: Ricardo Reyes

Carbomb attacks are typically quite rare in Mexico, but five have occurred in Mexico this year, almost all linked to the CJNG. 

Data from researcher Victor Sanchez.

This is the third attack using explosives against state forces in Zacatecas state in the last seven days.

29 August: A state police officer and a civilian were injured after an explosive attack against a state police patrol on a highway in Villa García, Zacatecas, near the Aguascalientes border. Both victims were taken to a hospitable and are stable.

Footage posted by journalist José Luis Morales from before the attack shows an abandoned motorcycle on the side of the road right where the explosion occurred. As the motorcycle did not explode when the vehicle filming drove by, the explosion was most likely remotely detonated.

The car bomb was done by Fuerzas Zacatecas Nueva Generacion, reported All Source News, citing an anonymous source in the region. 

27 August: A state police vehicle was attacked with explosives on Thursday morning while patrolling on the Federal Highway 54, near San Luis de Cusquite, Tabasco municipality. Two officers were injured. The highway was closed off by authorities for 8 hours as additional explosives were detected. 

Governor David Monreal Ávila stated the attacks were a criminal reaction to intelligence operations, seizures, and the presence of security forces in Juchipila and Tlaltenango.

Sources:

30 August: @JOSEANGELMART18, NTR Zacatecas, Zocalo

29 August:  La Jornada, @All_Source_News, José Luis Morales, Nmas Noticias, Pernicious Propaganda, JLM Noticias

27 August: NTR Zacatecas