A car stolen in Jalisco was used as a car bomb that exploded in front of the Public Security Command in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, on the night of Sunday, August 30. Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, the state’s secretary of government, confirmed that a civilian driver abandoned the vehicle and walked several blocks before the explosive mechanism activated.
The vehicle was a SEAT brand car that authorities believe was stolen in Jalisco starting in April. Investigators have not yet determined the type of explosives used or the specific mechanism that triggered the detonation.
The Explosion and Its Aftermath
According to Zacatecas authorities, the unidentified driver parked the car bomb directly in front of the command headquarters, positioning it behind one of the municipal police units on duty. An armored vehicle happened to be parked near the installations at the time, which officials later described as fortunate.
The driver left the car running and walked away. Minutes after the vehicle was abandoned, a female municipal police officer began heading toward it to conduct an inspection. She had not yet stepped outside the command building when the explosion occurred.
The blast damaged 11 privately owned vehicles, two patrol cars, and several surrounding buildings. Seven people sustained injuries, though none were considered serious.
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Alleged CJNG Involvement
The Attorney General’s Office of Zacatecas has attributed the attack to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Cristian Paul Camacho, the state attorney general, stated that the vehicle theft appeared connected to the CJNG, given it was taken from an area where the criminal organization operates.
Authorities believe the bombing was retaliation for the arrest of William “N,” an 18-year-old CJNG hitman. The young sicario was detained after allegedly assaulting Zacatecas police officers near the state border with Aguascalientes.
Investigators have not ruled out that the explosion was a direct consequence of that arrest, which forms part of broader efforts to combat organized crime in Zacatecas.
The attack represents a significant escalation in the violence that has plagued the region, using tactics more commonly associated with cartel warfare in other parts of Mexico. Whether this signals a broader shift in the CJNG’s operational approach in Zacatecas remains unclear, but the willingness to target police facilities with explosive devices suggests the group is prepared to operate with less restraint than before.
Investigations remain active. Authorities continue to examine the vehicle’s remains and security footage from the area to identify the driver and any accomplices. The Attorney General’s office has not released additional details about the ongoing probe.
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