At least seven suspected criminals died this Saturday during a confrontation with police in the city of Celaya, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, state authorities reported.
The confrontation took place during a police pursuit of two vehicles with armed men on the Celaya-Salvatierra highway, near the Rincón de Tamayo community, an area where fuel theft is concentrated.
The first versions suggest that these alleged criminals began to shoot the police officers but that during the pursuit their vehicle collided with a bridge, the subjects maintained the fire and died during the skirmish with the security elements.
[Mexico arrests 'El Marro', alleged leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and accused of drug trafficking, huachicoleo and killings in Guanajato]
The second vehicle continued with the attack on the State Public Security Forces (FSPE) and municipal police of Celaya, but its two passengers died in the exchange of fire and their vehicle ended up overturned on the side of the road.
Some of the deceased wore tactical vests and a grenade was even seized in one of the vehicles, authorities confirmed.
Tension in Guanajuato after the capture of 'El Marro'
Aug. 3, 202002: 22In another confrontation that occurred hours before, two alleged criminals lost their lives and three more were injured when confronted with police from the state of Guanajuato in Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas, where on August 2, José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, leader of the Santa Cartel, was arrested. Rose of Lima.
The Secretary of Public Security of Guanajuato, Alvar Cabeza de Vaca Appendini, confirmed the death of the two alleged criminals and pointed out that the three who were injured were detained, in addition to assuring them of large caliber weapons.
[The son of the deceased drug trafficker known as 'El Señor de los Cielos' is murdered in Mexico]
Guanajuato, with a population of about six million inhabitants, has been considered the most violent in Mexico since 2018 , as a result of the dispute between the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.
Both criminal organizations seek to control the territory for the transfer of drugs, theft of hydrocarbons, extortion, collection of floors and kidnapping.
This year, from January to July, 2,695 people have been murdered in Guanajuato , a figure that represents 13% of the 20,494 victims reported throughout the country, according to official figures from the Government of Mexico.
With information from EFE.