Gunmen kill 11 at religious festival in Mexico’s Guanajuato state

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decries shooting astatine Irapuato festival arsenic ‘deplorable’ and promises investigation.

A weapon onslaught during a spiritual solemnisation successful cardinal Mexico has near 11 radical dormant and astatine slightest 20 others injured successful violence-plagued Guanajuato state, section officials person confirmed.

The shooting erupted Tuesday nighttime successful the metropolis of Irapuato, authorities said connected Wednesday, during festivities marking the Nativity of John the Baptist. Witnesses described unspeakable scenes of panic and chaos arsenic partygoers fled the gunfire.

“It was chaos. People enactment the wounded into their cars and rushed to infirmary to effort to prevention them,” 1 witnesser told the quality bureau AFP, speaking anonymously owed to information concerns.

Footage shared online shows the infinitesimal gunfire rang retired arsenic radical danced and celebrated. Screams tin beryllium heard arsenic the assemblage scattered successful panic.

Bloodstains and slug holes were inactive disposable astatine the country connected Wednesday morning. Among the dormant were a 17-year-old, 8 men, and 2 women, according to the Guanajuato authorities prosecutor’s office.

In a statement, Irapuato’s section authorities called the onslaught a “cowardly act” and said information forces are hunting those responsible. Psychological enactment is being offered to affected families.

A antheral cleans stains of humor aft a shooting astatine the Barrio Nuevo neighbourhood successful Irapuato, Guanajuato state, Mexico, connected June 25, 2025 [Mario Armas/ AFP]

President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the onslaught arsenic “deplorable” and said an probe had been launched. At her regular quality conference, Sheinbaum referred to the shooting arsenic a “confrontation”, without elaborating connected details.

Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise besides denounced the attack, offering condolences to the victims’ families and pledging justice.

While Guanajuato is known for its concern maturation and colonial-era tourism hubs, it has notoriously go renowned arsenic Mexico’s astir convulsive authorities successful caller years.

Authorities blasted overmuch of the bloodshed connected an ongoing turf warfare betwixt the Santa Rosa de Lima pack and the almighty Jalisco New Generation cartel.

Government figures amusement Guanajuato recorded much than 3,000 homicides past twelvemonth — the highest successful the country.

Since Mexico launched its alleged warfare connected drugs successful 2006, much than 480,000 radical person been killed successful transgression violence, with much than 120,000 listed arsenic missing.