Michoacán - Frenzied Friday of CJNG vs CU Terror

“HEARST” for Borderland Beat

A series of high-powered gun fights, vehicles set on fire to make road blockades, stores burned to the ground, federal forces run out of town with stones and rocks. The terror and chaos of the Carteles Unidos versus Cartel Jalisco New Generation battle spread across at least 7 municipalities in the state of Michoacán on Friday, May 28 2021. Security forces in the area were more often the target of the violence, than able to control it. 

Friday, May 28 2021

Aguililla Municipality

A group of individuals got into a confrontation with members of the National Guard in the town El Terrero. A video of this encounter was published on Twitter. In the video members of the National Guard can be seen defending themselves with riot shields while also slowly backing up while rocks and sticks are being thrown at them. Some news sources report the National Guard tried scaring off the group by firing shots into the air.

The identity of the individuals attacking the National Guard differs by each news publication. El Sol de México and Quadratin both report the group was residents of the town of El Terrero. Noventa Grados reports it was civilians, no further details given. Periodico Correa and El Universal report the group was members of CJNG. Contramuro reports the group was members of Carteles Unidos. This is just one example of an endemic issue for all the conflicts of this day. Publications rarely agree on who was the perpetrator behind any of the following events.

⚠️Pobladores encaran a la @GN_MEXICO_⚠️@lopezobrador_ esto sucedió en Aguililla, Michoacán, creo que sigue sin funcionar tu estrategia de seguridad de los “Abrazos, no balazos”.

El “pueblo” comienza a cansarse, y tu falta de atención la pagarás caro en las urnas 🗳 pic.twitter.com/Y4y3GuUxz6

— FER MX 🇲🇽⚔🇺🇸 🎖 (@Fer_MX10) May 28, 2021

After this confrontation with the National Guard, a roadblock created from 2 vehicles was constructed blocking entry into the town of Aguililla so that federal forces could not enter and reinforce the National Guard members. The identity of the group that created this roadblock varies according to news publications in a similar fashion. 

At around 10:00 am, the Michoacan Public Security Secretariat (SSP) reported that actions were being taken to remove the cars that were obstructing the road to the municipality of Aguililla.

Apatzingan Municipality

A video on social media gained traction and caused panic for residents of Apatzingan. The clip is audio in which the voice of a man can be heard saying: “We are going to burn everything…Stores, Oxxos, everything in the whole state, you sons of bitches.” For reference, Oxxos is the name of a gas station convenience store chain. These were not empty threats as stores in the city of Apatzingan, capital of the municipality of the same name, began burning. Managers and owners of convenience stores reportedly closed shops and tried their best to lock up their establishments due to the online threat and smoke looming in the distance. In total, three Oxxo stores were burned. 

Coppel Canada, a department store, a few steps from the main square of Apatzingan was burned, as well as a branch of Bodega Aurrerá, a discount store. Some news sources allege that explosive devices were used to start the fires in Coppel Canada and Bodega Aurrerá, but most news sources report only a fire. Molotov cocktails can be seen being used to start some of the fires in social media posts. The Coppel Canada fire caused mass panic for guests of a hotel located right next door. 

#Apatzingan #Michoacan 🎥3

Así los Bloqueos… pic.twitter.com/h3GUgX80JX

— TH3PR3D4TH0R Mxx (@fernand17704066) May 28, 2021

Later in the afternoon a soft drink truck was set on fire in the Lázaro Cárdenas neighborhood of Apatzingan. Mayor José Luis Cruz Lucatero wrote on social media “The authorities have reacted immediately to the two reported risk situations. They are working with all energy to preserve order.”

By 4:00 pm, Michoacan SSP announced a roadblock had been cleared from the highway near Los Hornos.  At 5:00 pm it was reported that a man attempted to set fire to a commercial establishment. 

Buenavista Municipality

Videos on social media reportedly show inhabitants of the ranchería of Pinzándaro attacking elements of the Michoacán Police with stones and eggs. The police reportedly retreated to avoid further confrontation. All personnel from the State Public Security Secretariat, National Guard and Mexican Army left the town of Pizándaro by the afternoon in order to deescalate the situation.

Morelia Municipality

Múgica Municipality

Paracuaro Municipality 

Narco blockades were set up on the Apatzingán-Cuatro Caminos highway within the municipality of Parácuaro. Reportedly a  group of armed individuals stopped several vehicles belonging to private companies such as Sabritas and set them on fire. State security elements and the National Guard arrived at the town of Uspero to deactivate the blockades and put out the fire.

Tepalcatepec Municipality According to the Michoacan Public Security Secretariat (SSP), there were 11 road blockades that had been cleared by 4:00 pm  in the state of Michoacan on Friday. Their statement read “After the reinforcement of actions by the Michoacan Police, the Mexican Army and the National Guard in the municipalities of Apatzingan, Buenavista, Paracuaro, Tepalcatepec and Aguililla, circulation was restored at these road points, which were obstructed with vehicles.” The total number of road blocks still active in Michoacan is not given.

Sources

Contramuro

EFE

El Sol Article 1, El Sol Article 2, El Sol Article 3, El Sol Article 4

El Universal

La Tarde

La Voz Article 1, La Voz Article 2, La Voz Article 3

Noventa Grados

Periodico Correa
Poresto

Quadratin 

SPD Noticias