A vehicle-borne explosion outside a police station in central Zacatecas on Sunday left at least 11 people injured, including two police officers, and caused substantial damage to nearby buildings, state officials said on Monday.
The car was abandoned outside the police headquarters in Ojocaliente before detonating, according to Zacatecas governor David Monreal. Local images circulated on social media showed columns of flame and people, including children, running from the scene. News organizations were unable to independently confirm the footage.
At a press conference on Monday, Monreal said initial reports indicate the attack may have been carried out by a criminal group in retaliation for the arrest of one of its members the previous day. He characterized the incident as part of an evolving pattern of violence by organized crime.
"Organized crime is evolving; I don't understand why people aren't grasping the full extent of what's happening in the country," Monreal said, describing the change in the tactics used by criminal organizations.
State security chief Arturo Medina told reporters on Monday that Sunday’s explosion is one of nearly a dozen similar events in recent years in Zacatecas. Medina provided a tally showing that in 2024 there was one such explosive incident, that number rose to six in 2025, and that there have been 10 so far this year. He did not provide a breakdown of casualties from those earlier incidents.
Authorities and local officials have reported a range of methods used in these attacks, including small drones loaded with explosives and landmines. Monreal and Medina both framed these methods as evidence of an evolution in criminal operations, with targets ranging from security facilities to communities and law enforcement personnel.
Other Mexican states affected by similar violence include Michoacan, officials said, where criminal groups have also used explosive devices against security installations, public spaces and personnel. Some of those incidents have resulted in the deaths of military members, according to the accounts relayed by local authorities.
The national central government has not issued a comment regarding the recent string of explosive attacks, officials said.
Context and immediate details
- The most recent blast occurred outside the police headquarters in Ojocaliente in central Zacatecas on Sunday, injuring at least 11 people and damaging about 40 buildings.
- Officials reported the vehicle was abandoned prior to detonation; social media footage showed fire and civilians fleeing, but the footage could not be independently verified.
- State security officials say explosive attacks have increased in Zacatecas over the last three years, with 1 incident in 2024, 6 in 2025, and 10 so far this year.