Mexico: US Consulate in Guadalajara attacked December 1

Event

An explosive device detonated outside of the US Consulate in Guadalajara (Jalisco state) early on the morning (local time) of Saturday, December 1. No one was injured in the blast and a wall suffered only minor damages. The consulate was closed following the incident on Saturday; it is expected to reopen on Monday, December 3, but will only be offering limited services. Mexican federal authorities have taken over the investigation into the incident. As of Sunday, December 2, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Criminal activity is a significant threat in Jalisco. The Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartel is based in Jalisco state and its leader is on the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) most wanted list. Mexico continues to suffer from high crime rates. Much of the violence is driven by narco-trafficking. Clashes between narco-gangs and government forces are at the highest levels since former President Felipe Calderon's war against narco-trafficking (2008 to 2011). The capture and extradition of Joaquin Guzmán (El Chapo), the former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, has led rival groups to attempt to take advantage of the power vacuum and establish stronger criminal network.

Advice

Individuals in Guadalajara are advised to monitor the situation and to contact the consulate directly for further information regarding consular service availability.

Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to a large portion of Mexican territory, including Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas states, the northeastern border with the US, and, to a lesser extent, Baja California, Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, and Veracruz states.