At least 10 people murdered at rally in Mexico’s Baja California

At least 10 people are dead and another nine injured after an armed group fired at drivers taking part in a rally in Baja California, in northwestern Mexico, on Saturday. Videos and images shared on social networks captured the aftermath of the attack, showing vehicles riddled with bullets and bodies lying on the ground. In one video, several men are seen using long guns to fire at one of the cars taking part in the rally, as spectators flee in terror.

Although the site of the attack or attacks has not been confirmed, local media reported that the violence took place in Ensenada and the surrounding areas of the city, which is located south of Tijuana. The rally — known in the area as Chacanillazo — began Saturday in morning on a beach in the city. As reported by Zeta Tijuana and other media, citing municipal police reports, the attack began after 2:00 p.m., in the town of San Vicente, south of Ensenada.

The mayor of Ensenada, Armando Ayala, said she was working with authorities to find out what happened. “I am in constant communication with the State Attorney General’s Office, as well as with the federal bodies of the three levels of government, in order to provide all the necessary information. Surveillance has also been increased in the southern part of the municipality, and the operations to locate those responsible for the attack continue,” she said on Saturday.

For years, Baja California has recorded one of the highest rates of violence in Mexico, with Tijuana the state’s most violent city. The situation has been blamed on warring criminal groups, who battle to control the state, especially in regions close to the border. But it is not known what motivated Saturday’s attack. The Cachanillazo has been held in Baja California since 2018, and has never recorded a similar act of violence.

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