According to authorities, individuals launched an explosive device at a police station in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.

This incident occurred amidst an extensive search for 16 police personnel who were forcefully abducted while traveling on a local highway, the Associated Press reported.

These attacks bring attention to an ongoing power struggle between rival cartels in the region, vying for control over both law enforcement agencies and the illicit trades of drugs and human trafficking, given Chiapas’ proximity to Guatemala.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that the kidnappings were linked to a conflict between two criminal groups, stating that such clashes have become increasingly common in recent times.

López Obrador further disclosed that the abducted individuals were associated with a local prison, presumably serving as guards or administrative staff, despite being formally employed by the state police.

Initially, authorities had reported that 14 men had been kidnapped, with 17 female employees subsequently released from a bus on Tuesday. However, on Wednesday, the police revised the number of abductees to 16.

Written by staff