Mayor Shot Dead in Central Mexico Amid Rising Violence

Armed assailants gunned down the mayor of a central Mexican town on Monday, authorities reported, marking the latest killing of a local official in a country long plagued by gang-related violence.

Gunmen shot Pisaflores mayor Miguel Bahena on the street before fleeing, local police said, noting that his body bore at least five bullet wounds.

Bahena’s Green Party expressed in a statement its “profound dismay” at his “cowardly murder”, urging authorities to apprehend the attackers.

Mexico has suffered nearly two decades of drug-related violence, during which numerous local politicians have been assassinated.

Recent incidents highlight the ongoing crisis:

• June: Armed men stormed a mayor’s office in southern Mexico, killing her and a staff member.
• Following day: Another mayor in the country’s west was murdered alongside her husband.
• May: Two close aides to Mexico City’s mayor were gunned down in the capital. At least 13 suspects have since been arrested in connection with that case.

Recent Violence Against Mexican Officials

The persistent attacks on local politicians underscore the challenges Mexico faces in curbing organised crime and protecting public officials, particularly in regions heavily affected by drug cartel activity.