Car bomb disarmed in Ciudad Juarez.

Mexican Federal police in Ciudad Juárez continue to investigate a foiled car bombing attempt in the parking lot of a day-care center along Hernamos Escobar Avenue in the Omega Industrial Park.

Mexican Federal police spokesman José Ramón Salinas said officers responded to a call late Friday night about a dead body found in a blue Ford Escape parked on the street outside of the day care center.

"When police arrived at the scene, they found the man's body inside the Escape and discovered an explosive device inside a red Kia compact car in the parking lot of the day care center” Salinas said. "But as they inspected further, they found more explosive materials inside the Kia."

Salinas said a permiter was established by federal police and a military bomb removal team arived early Saturday morning. The team removed and secured most of the explosive material from the vehicle but due to the high risk in moving the triggering device it was deactivated through the use of a controlled detonation at approximately 4:30 AM Saturday.

No one was injured in the operation and the day care center suffered only superficial damage.

Angel Torres, spokesman for the attorney general's office in Juárez, said it is unknown what type of explosives were used but one unconfirmed report identified the esplosive as Tovex. This explosive was used in the first car bomb attack on Mexican Federal police in downtown Ciudad Juarez that took place in July and resulted in four deaths.

"The investigation is still ongoing," Torres said. "This is only the second car bomb found in the city."

Unconfirmed reports stated that both vehicles matched the description of vehicles involved in a shootout and pursuit involving Federal police earlier Friday night after several men were detected acting suspiciously outside of a red compact car that had just parked next to a Federal Police command center.

The men fled in both vehicles after being approached by authorities and disregarding orders to stop. Gunfire was exchanged during the pursuit. The man found dead in the blue Ford Escape had been shot in the face according to investigators.

This is the second vehicle borne explosive device discovered and deactivated in Mexico in as many days. On Thursday an explosive device on board a motorcycle was disarmed in the city of Tonala, a suburb of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco.

These incidents are certain to increase public nervousness as Mexico’s Independence Day bicentennial celebrations approach on September 15 and 16.

Sources used in this story included the El Paso Times, El Diario de Cd Juarez and El Agora de Chihuahua