Mexico Car Bomb Explodes, Injuring Several National Guard Officers

In a brazen incident indicative of escalating cartel violence, a suspected booby trap or car bomb detonated in Celaya, a cartel-dominated city in Mexico, late Wednesday, causing injuries to several National Guard officers, Al Jazeera reported.

Using a car bomb as a deliberate tactic to harm law enforcement officers represents a dangerous escalation in the ongoing clashes between rival cartels.

Some analysts have drawn parallels to a similar incident in 2010 when a Mexico car bomb detonated in Ciudad Juarez, a northern border city, claimed three lives during the height of the 2006-2012 drug war.

The National Guard officers were responding to a report about a parked vehicle with apparent bodies inside. As they approached the car, it exploded, resulting in the officers being thrown by the force of the blast.

At the time of reporting, there is no immediate information on the condition of the wounded officers. However, it is known that at least three individuals sustained significant injuries requiring hospitalization.

National Guard Officers Were Checking the Car Following a Phone Tip

Following the Mexico car bomb attack that targeted the National Guard in Celaya, Governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez of Guanajuato state revealed that initial reports suggest the involvement of explosives in the blast, according to Reuters.

According to Rodriguez, authorities are currently examining information indicating that the explosion occurred after security officials responded to a tip regarding the presence of bodies inside the vehicle.

The governor emphasized the need to ascertain whether the attack targeted the National Guard, Mexico's federal security force overseen by the army.

In response to the incident, the federal attorney general's office has announced its intention to investigate the case.

Rodriguez requested their intervention while forensic experts work to determine the cause of the explosion. Several media outlets in Mexico have characterized the incident as a "car bomb."

Rodriguez stated that local authorities are exploring potential connections between the attack and recent arrests and assaults on local police.

He also mentioned that he had recently met with Army officials to discuss strengthening security measures in the area.

As part of the investigation, authorities will thoroughly examine the involvement of any corrupt police officers, with a commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Mexico Drug Cartels Are Shifting to Terrorist-Style Tactics, Security Analyst Says

The recent Mexico car bomb attack in Celaya, Guanajuato indicates a potential shift towards terrorist-style tactics by Mexico drug cartels, according to security analyst David Saucedo, ABC News noted.

While cartels have used improvised explosive devices sporadically, this car bomb represents a more alarming progression in its methods.

Saucedo suggests that such high-impact actions aim to instill terror in the population and generate extensive media and social media coverage.

Car bomb attacks enable the cartels to cause casualties among their rivals without assuming significant risks.

The production of such bombs is relatively inexpensive and poses a low level of risk for the perpetrators.

The incident also raises concerns about the vulnerabilities within Mexico's National Guard, which President Andrés Manuel López Obrador established to serve as the country's primary law enforcement agency.

Saucedo noted that local police in Celaya, who have experienced many colleagues' murders this year, generally exercise more caution when approaching abandoned vehicles.

However, the National Guard officers on Wednesday "fell into the trap."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Mexico drug gangs start using car bombs - From Al Jazeera English