Image Credit: isain on Twitter (Suspects involved in attack)
A safe house
belonging to the Agrarian Indigenous Zapatista Movement (MAIZ) — a paramilitary
group that has been tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel — was targeted in
a grenade attack on September 3rd in the Nuevo Comalapa community of Frontera
Comalapa, Chiapas.
The safe
house, located near the exit towards Paso Hondo, was attacked at 6:30AM by a
suspect who threw a grenade at the safe house before fleeing on a motorcycle
with another suspect. Locals reported that the safe house was used to store
vehicles and firearms for EL MAIZ, according to La Jornada. No deaths or
injuries have been reported in connection to the attack.
In response
to the attack, El MAIZ established blockades at the exits of Frontera Comalapa
and launched patrols throughout Frontera Comalapa and the Lajerío community in
search of the suspects. Locals sheltered in place out of fear of conflict
between the two parties until the blockades were lifted at 12:00PM. The El MAIZ
patrols continued throughout the day.
How the
firearms and explosives were transported to the safe house sparked confusion
among citizens, since checkpoints inspecting incoming vehicles are placed at
all entrances of Frontera Comalapa. According to the August 22nd Safety Report, authorities have seized 2,905 grenades between December, 2018 and August 21st, 2023 with the report noting a decrease of seizures from 725 in 2022 to 469 in August of this year.
