Car Bomb in Celaya, Guanajuato Explodes Next to National Guard Base

"redlogarythm" and "Morogris" for Borderland Beat

On March 8, a car bomb placed in a parking lot next to the Guardia Nacional (National Guard; GN) base in Celaya, Guanajuato, exploded at around 6:30 pm. Nobody was killed and only two federal officers were wounded (although not severely). They were treated inside their headquarters and a transfer to a hospital was not necessary.

The GN reported that a man left the vehicle at the lot minutes before the explosion. They said that the man abandoned the vehicle claiming he had a mechanical failure. They confirmed to reporters that the vehicle was reported as stolen. Federal investigators stated that the suspect may have detonated the bomb from a mobile device.

Witnesses reported that the man parked then left in another vehicle. In the video posted above, a GN member questioned a witness who saw the man driving the vehicle. The witness claimed that the driver parked at the lot and told her good afternoon. She asked the driver if he was coming in to the base, but the man said no and left. She described the suspect as being of slim complexion.

Celaya firefighters putting out the flames

Aftermath of the explosion

The explosion was loud and was heard in neighboring communities such as Michinelas, Los Mancera, Romeral, Rancho Seco, which are found at least 2 km (1.2 mi) or 3 km (1.9 mi) away. Members of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Celaya went to the facilities to put out the flames of the car. The Celaya Municipal Police helped cordoned the area.

Security operations are being carried out to find the whereabouts the driver. The GN is working with state and municipal authorities on the case, but they have been wary to provide more details to the press. The attack occurs days after the capture of José Antonio Yépez Ortiz's ("El Marro") father, as reported by Borderland Beat.

Previous bomb incidents
Just two weeks ago, authorities discovered two explosive devices in Guanajuato. The first one inside a bank, and second one inside a waiting room of the Celaya Bus Station.

The Guanajuato Prosecutor's Office arrested Carlos "N", a suspected member of a local criminal cell, for placing the bomb inside the waiting room. He was hiding a bomb inside a black suitcase and had a written message for a rival gang. He was charged with terrorism and illegal possession of explosives.

Source(s): Periodico Correo; El Heraldo de Mexico; La Jornada; Televisa; AM; Sol del Bajio; El Financiero; Informativo Agora