Gunmen Killed at least 11 people at Football ground in Central Mexico

At least 11 people were killed and about a dozen others injured after gunmen opened fire at a football ground in the central Mexican city of Salamanca on Sunday, local authorities said.

Witnesses reported that several armed men arrived in multiple vehicles and began shooting at people gathered at the pitch without warning. Many families had remained at the ground after a local football match to socialise. Among the dead were at least one woman and one child.

Residents of the Loma de Flores neighbourhood said they heard dozens of gunshots during the attack at the Cabañas football pitch. Police and emergency services rushed the injured to nearby hospitals, where some were reported to be in critical condition.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Local and federal security forces have launched a joint investigation.

The shooting came a day after other violent incidents in Salamanca, in which five men were killed and another was abducted, according to local reports.

Salamanca is located in Guanajuato, Mexico’s deadliest state in recent years. The region has been hit by persistent gang violence linked to fuel theft, drug trafficking, and extortion. Salamanca is home to a major refinery operated by the state oil company Pemex, making it a frequent target of criminal groups.

Security analysts say violence in the area is largely driven by rivalry between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima group, both of which are involved in organised crime activities inside Mexico and beyond.

Mexican authorities have repeatedly pledged to curb cartel violence, while the United States has increased pressure on criminal networks involved in cross-border drug trafficking. The issue remains a major source of tension and cooperation between the two countries.