The attack happened around 10 p.m. local time on Monday evening. Several posters were found on the spot that pointed to a criminal organization from the region. Witnesses say the gunmen entered the hotel and bars and just started shooting at those present. Afterwards, they poured out fuel and wanted to set the buildings on fire. The bodies of the victims were left between the tables and chairs.
The state of Guanajuato, a prosperous industrial center with an important network of oil pipelines and a refinery, has become one of the most violent states in Mexico as a result of the conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels. The gangs fight for control of the drug trade and stolen fuel.
Mexico has been hit by a wave of violence that has killed 340,000 since 2006, the year in which the army launched an offensive anti-drug policy. Most of the deaths were caused by criminal organizations.
