A car bomb detonated outside a police station in north-central Mexico on Sunday night, leaving six people injured and causing structural damage, according to local authorities.
The explosion occurred in Ojocaliente, a town in Zacatecas, a state known as a critical hub for drug trafficking corridors. State government secretary Rodrigo Reyes confirmed the incident on Facebook, stating that the explosive device had been concealed inside a private vehicle parked directly in front of the station.
According to Reyes, the blast caused physical damage to the police station itself as well as to several neighboring properties. He also confirmed that six civilians sustained injuries in the explosion and are currently receiving medical attention.
Zacatecas serves as a vital transit region for cartels because of its geographical position, which links central Mexico with the northern and western parts of the country. These routes are highly contested by criminal organizations seeking to smuggle cocaine and other illicit narcotics into the United States.
Horrific drug violence plagued the state for years, with bodies turning up and people going missing almost on a daily basis until relative calm set in. However, tensions have risen again in recent months. In July, the bodies of five individuals—including a former mayor, civil servants, and local business owners from other parts of the state—were found hanging from a bridge in Pozos de Gamboa, a town located approximately 75 kilometers from the site of Sunday's bombing.
