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Mexican Cartels Step Up Car Bomb, Explosive Attacks In Zacatecas

Written by TNNBot on

A car bomb exploded outside a police station in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas on Sunday, August 30, 2026, injuring 11 people and damaging more than 60 homes.[1]

Mexico's security chief Omar García Harfuch said the Ojocaliente attack involved about 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of explosives.[1] Zacatecas Attorney General Cristian Paul Camacho reported 23 explosive attacks in the state so far in 2026, including six that used cars or motorcycles packed with explosives.[1]

Officials attribute recent city-center bombings in Michoacán and Zacatecas to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel amid its conflict with the Sinaloa Cartel.[1] Mexican authorities say cartels have increasingly used improvised explosive devices and explosive drones over the past five years, and thousands of devices have been seized or deactivated.[1]

The Trump administration has designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and several other Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has invoked that framework to justify potential U.S. military action.[1]

  1. PBS News
Cartel Violence and Security U.S.–Mexico Relations
Show source details & analysis (1 source)

📌 Key Facts

  • On Sunday, August 30, 2026, a car bomb exploded outside a police station in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, injuring 11 people and damaging more than 60 homes.
  • Mexico security chief Omar García Harfuch said the Ojocaliente attack involved about 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of explosives.
  • Zacatecas Attorney General Cristian Paul Camacho reported 23 explosive attacks in the state so far in 2026, including six involving cars or motorcycles packed with explosives.
  • Officials attribute recent city-center bombings in Michoacán and Zacatecas to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel amid its conflict with the Sinaloa Cartel.
  • Mexican authorities say cartels have increasingly used improvised explosive devices and explosive drones over the past five years, with thousands of devices seized or deactivated in recent years.
  • The Trump administration has designated CJNG and several other Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and invoked that framework to justify potential U.S. military action.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

September 05, 2026
9:56 PM
Why Mexican cartels are increasingly using car bombs and other explosives
PBS News by María Verza, Associated Press