Murder count climbs in Mexico, with 251 homicides recorded over last weekend in February
Mexico Reports Record-Breaking Violence Over Most Recent Weekend
A shocking surge in violence was reported across Mexico last weekend, with the city of Tijuana, Baja California recording the highest number of homicides at 283 cases. This figure surpasses the previous record of 26 homicides in the State of Mexico, according to unspecified sources.
The Security Report of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), dated Friday, February 23, revealed that there were 87 intentional homicides on that day alone. The following day, Saturday, saw a slightly lower count of 78 homicides, while Sunday recorded 86 cases.
These disturbing figures translate to a total of 1,808 murders reported in February, averaging 72.3 cases per day. The states of Mexico, Guanajuato, and Baja California were the hardest hit during this period, with Guanajuato being the second state with the highest number of murders, reporting 25 cases. Baja California followed closely behind with 24 cases, making it the third state with the highest number of cases.
The city of Puebla, Mexico, unfortunately, experienced the most violent weekend so far in 2024, reporting 251 murders. The exact date of this most violent weekend was not specified in the report.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has primarily focused on anti-corruption measures and a policy of de-escalation to address rising violence. However, critics argue that this approach has largely failed, resulting in over 180,000 deaths and 50,000 disappearances during his term. Despite these concerns, no new information has been provided regarding the President's actions or plans to aggressively combat drug cartels, which have reportedly expanded their control during his presidency.
The SSPC has not released any additional information regarding the causes or context of this recent surge in violence.
