In the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, the newspaper El Debate came under fire on Thursday night when assailants unleashed a barrage of gunfire at its building in Culiacán, the state capital where ongoing battles between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have created a climate of violence. The outlet reported that approximately a dozen shots were fired, with at least four bullet marks appearing on the building’s walls and additional rounds hitting parked vehicles in front of the offices. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from this incident.
A press freedom organization, the Mexican Media Alliance, condemned the attack, describing it as a direct assault on press freedom and a violation of the public’s right to information. Witnesses shared that the attackers, arriving in two vehicles, briefly stopped outside the building, where one individual exited and began shooting with a rifle before the group fled the scene.
Threats against journalists have surged substantially amid escalating violence attributed to recent clashes between factions of the cartel. The conflict intensified after the capture of two drug lords, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, who were apprehended in the U.S. on July 25 after flying there on a private plane. Zambada has alleged that he was abducted by Guzmán López, which in turn sparked violent confrontations between their respective factions.
In Culiacán, reporters have faced threats for attempting to cover the ongoing violence, experiencing intimidation tactics such as being stopped by armed individuals on the roads. The plight of journalists in this region echoes the tragic fate of Javier Valdez in 2017, an award-winning journalist who was murdered for his work covering drug trafficking and organized crime in Sinaloa.
Amid this climate of fear, local residents increasingly rely on social media for updates and alerts regarding safety, given the intimidation against traditional media. Social media platforms were inundated with disturbing clips of violent encounters, including footage of burning vehicles and armed cartel convoys. State authorities have routinely attempted to downplay these violent incidents, but the underlying realities cannot be completely concealed. The Sinaloa State University announced the cancellation of in-person classes due to an uptick in violence in the area.
Videos circulating online depict chaotic scenes reminiscent of war zones. For instance, a military helicopter was seen hovering near armed individuals who had crashed their truck, returning fire in a recent incident. However, the accuracy of online reports can sometimes be questionable, as demonstrated when the Sinaloa Red Cross had to issue a statement denying rumors that two paramedics had been kidnapped in a region experiencing heightened conflict. They emphasized their neutrality in the ongoing strife.
The situation has been complicated by the resignation of the chief state prosecutor, who stepped down amid allegations of providing misleading information regarding a high-profile murder linked to political unrest. As a precautionary measure, Culiacán’s police force has temporarily been disarmed by the military, a common practice when there are suspicions of collusion between law enforcement and criminal organizations.
In response to the attack on El Debate, President Claudia Sheinbaum made a brief statement condemning the violence, stating that investigations were underway to address the situation. It is noteworthy that her party, Morena, governs the state and she has shown firm support for Governor Rubén Rocha amidst the rising tensions.