Mural newspaper attacked in Guadalajara, Mexico

Not much damage (Source: Mural)

Two grenades were thrown at the offices of Mural newspaper in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the early hours of Wednesday, April 17, causing some property damage but no injuries or loss of life. As of this posting the perpetrators have not been found.

The attack occurred around 3:30 am local time at the newspaper’s offices in the municipality of Zapopan, which is part of the greater Guadalajara area in the state of Jalisco. The two explosions appear to have occurred only seconds apart.

Mural, which is part of the Reforma Group, stated that this is the first attack against it in 14 years. The damage from the attack was not observed until guards inspected the exterior of the property at 6 am.

One bomb exploded on Mariano Otero avenue, next to the front door of the newspaper, and another on Lopez Mateos near the newspaper’s parking lot. These were not powerful devices – the first created a one inch deep hole in a wall.

Intimidation is a possible purpose of the attack, although with no one claiming responsibility and it is uncertain what the specific intention was.

México is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, with about eighty journalists killed since 2000.

(TE Wilson is the author of Mezcalero, a Detective Sánchez novel.)

For related stories see:

March 4, 2013: Journalist slain in Chihuahua, Mexico’s most dangerous state to be a reporter

February 28, 2013: Third attack on Mexican newspaper leaves one dead, two injured

February 25, 2013: Federal agents attacked while guarding El Siglo de Torreón newspaper

February 23, 2013: Tracking Mexico’s disappeared in a journalistic black hole

Twitter: @TimothyEWilson

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