Violence in Sinaloa leaves at least seven dead in the last 24 hours, according to the prosecutor’s office

() – At least seven people have died in the past 24 hours in Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico, the state prosecutor’s office said Friday.

Sinaloa, and in particular its capital, Culiacán, and its surrounding areas, have faced an increase in violence since Monday, September 9 due to the confrontation between two armed groups, as both state and federal authorities have admitted.

Between September 9 and 12, 12 people were killed by gunshot wounds, according to data provided by the public prosecutor’s office.

The violence forced the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, to suspend the celebrations for the cry of independence of Mexico, scheduled for September 15.

On Thursday, Governor Rocha Moya had already announced the suspension of classes at all levels in five municipalities of his state.

“I inform the Sinaloa society that school activities are suspended in the municipalities of Culiacán, Elota, Cosalá and San Ignacio, today, September 12, 2024, at all educational levels and modalities,” Rocha Moya said in a statement. X’s publicationformerly Twitter.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Thursday that his government has “sufficient presence to guarantee peace and tranquility” in Sinaloa, and also assured that the violence is a response to clashes “between two groups.” He added that it is also due to a “disarray” that occurred after the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, which occurred on July 25. Zambada testified this Friday in a New York court.

López Obrador referred again to the violence on Friday and downplayed Governor Rocha Moya’s decision to suspend the Grito celebrations scheduled for September 15.

“There have been some problems, there is the Army, there is the Navy, the National Guard, (but I want) to tell the people of Culiacán, which is also only Culiacán, that we are waiting for them to act with caution but without alarmism,” said López Obrador.

The U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo issued an alert Thursday over reports of violence in four municipalities in Sinaloa, including Culiacán.

The alert details that the U.S. consulate has received “reports of vehicle thefts, gunshots, security operations, roadblocks, burned vehicles, and closed roads” in and around Culiacán, adding that local authorities have suspended classes and public events for Mexican Independence Day.