In a tragic incident, a state police officer and her two bodyguards lost their lives in a highway attack in Mexico's violent western state of Michoacan, as confirmed by security officials on Monday.
The state security agency in Michoacan expressed their grief on social media, stating, "We strongly condemn the cowardly murder of our fellow Civil Guards, who, in the line of police duty, were cruelly attacked." The post also identified the other two victims as Itzel Madero Larrea and David de Jesus Espinoza Valdez.
This devastating attack took place on the highway that connects the towns of Patzcuaro and Uruapan.
While the Michoacan state prosecutor's office is currently investigating the incident, they have not provided any immediate comments.
Michoacan has been severely impacted by gang turf wars, with the Jalisco New Generation cartel engaged in a fierce battle with a local gang known as the Viagras for control. The violence has led to thousands of residents being displaced, as organized crime groups resort to tactics like drone attacks and improvised explosive devices.
Earlier this month, a tragic incident occurred in Michoacan, resulting in the deaths of three farmers due to a bomb explosion. This devastating event took place shortly after President Andrés Manuel López Obrador publicly acknowledged that an improvised explosive device claimed the lives of at least four soldiers in what he described as a "trap" likely orchestrated by a cartel in the same region.
Furthermore, in February, two individuals running for mayor in Maravatío were tragically killed within a span of hours. This unfortunate incident adds to the escalating violence targeting politicians, with at least six local leaders being murdered this year in the lead-up to the national elections scheduled for June 2.
