12 killed in attack on party in Mexico: Officials

MEXICO CITY – At least 12 people were killed and another dozen were wounded in an attack early on Dec 17 on a pre-Christmas party in central Mexico, authorities in the state of Guanajuato said.

The violence occurred in the town of Salvatierra, reportedly at a hacienda, or ranch, that can be rented for festivities.

“So far, 12 people are reported dead,” the prosecutor’s office said on X, the former Twitter.

Twelve others who were wounded were taken to hospital.

The Tierra Negra foundation, which promotes social projects in the area, said the victims were young people participating in “posadas”, religious gatherings that celebrate aspects of the story of Christmas.

A person who was at the party but asked not to be identified for security reasons told AFP that about six men with long guns entered the venue and began circulating among the 100 or so young people at the event.

“We realised they were not invited, and when they were asked who they were, they started shooting,” he said.

The victims were “all young acquaintances, admired and very good people. It’s a horror what is happening in Salvatierra”, Tierra Negra member Carlos Silva wrote on social media.

Three years ago, in the city of some 90,000, authorities discovered unmarked graves with at least 50 bodies.

Guanajuato is one of the most violent states in Mexico, due in large part to the presence of criminal gangs – including a pair of feuding drug cartels.

“I condemn the unfortunate act of violence that occurred in the community of San Jose del Carmen this morning. We are thoroughly cooperating with the prosecutor’s office,” Salvatierra mayor German Cervantes posted on Facebook.

Similar attacks have been recorded in recent years in Guanajuato, which this year topped the list of states with the most homicides in Mexico, with 3,029 so far, according to official figures.

AFP