Car bomb in Zacatecas underscores cartels' growing use of explosives

A powerful car bomb exploded outside a police station in Ojocaliente, Mexico, on Sunday night, injuring 11 people and damaging more than 60 homes in the city center. No fatalities were reported.

Mexico's Secretary of Security, Omar García Harfuch, said preliminary investigations estimate that roughly 200 kilograms of explosive material were used in the attack. The blast caused severe damage to ten homes, minor damage to 53 others, and damaged 15 vehicles.

The incident is part of a broader trend of drug cartels increasingly deploying car bombs, explosives-laden drones, and improvised explosive devices. García Harfuch noted that the use of such devices has been highly concentrated among criminal groups, primarily the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, with incidents recorded in Michoacán and Zacatecas.

Zacatecas Prosecutor Cristian Paul Camacho reported that the state has recorded 23 attacks involving explosives so far this year, six of which involved vehicles carrying explosives. He added that three people have been detained in connection with the Ojocaliente explosion.

The Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels have been fighting for control of Zacatecas for years. Residents in the state capital expressed deep concern over the escalating violence.

"We've even reached the point of terrorism with car bombs," said Rafael Armas López, a city government employee. "Before, it was executions and disappearances, and now we've reached the stage of bombings." He added that the ongoing conflict between criminal groups makes it difficult to feel safe in the region.