2008 Morelia grenade attacks
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Morelia grenade attacks took place on 15 September 2008 on the occasion of the Mexican Independence Day
anniversary when thousands of people were gathered in the Plaza Melchor Ocampo, the main square
of the Mexican city of Morelia
, Michoacán
. Shortly after the Grito
in that city, led by Governor
Leonel Godoy, two grenades were thrown into the crowds, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100.
Two further explosions were reported in the immediate aftermath: one at 01:00, leaving the city along the highway to Salamanca, Guanajuato
; and a fourth at 01:15, in the Santa María district in the vicinity of Morelia's bandera monumental
.
s for the grenade attacks, specifically the La Familia Michoacana
gang. La Familia has denied it and instead blamed Los Zetas
. A week after the attacks, police arrested three men of the Los Zetas gang accused of throwing the grenades.
Felipe Calderón
of the PAN
, although the state of Michocán has traditionally been controlled by the opposition PRI
and PRD
. Michoacán has, since Calderón took office, been one of the federal government's focal points in its anti-drug efforts
and initial suspicions indicated that the atrocity was probably the work of the drugs cartels, either part of a battle for territory or as a warning to the government. Condemnation of the incident across the country was unanimous, as such tactics of the drug lords in attacking random citizen congregations was unprecedented in Mexican history.
Grito de Dolores
The Grito de Dolores also known as El Grito de la Independencia , uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on April 19, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico...
anniversary when thousands of people were gathered in the Plaza Melchor Ocampo, the main square
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
of the Mexican city of Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
, Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
. Shortly after the Grito
Grito de Dolores
The Grito de Dolores also known as El Grito de la Independencia , uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on April 19, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico...
in that city, led by Governor
Governor of Michoacán
According to the Political Constitution of the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo, the exercise of the Ejectivo Power of this Mexican organization, it is deposited in a single individual, that denominates Constitutional Governor of the Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo...
Leonel Godoy, two grenades were thrown into the crowds, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100.
The attacks
The first blast was reported shortly after 23:00, on the Plaza itself, as the governor was intoning the traditional vivas to the heroes of the nation; the second took place some minutes later, in a sidestreet located four blocks away.Two further explosions were reported in the immediate aftermath: one at 01:00, leaving the city along the highway to Salamanca, Guanajuato
Salamanca, Guanajuato
Salamanca is a city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.Founded January 1, 1603 as 'Villa de Salamanca' by the Viceroy Gaspar de Zuniga and Acevedo, fifth Earl of Monterrey, who was originally from Salamanca...
; and a fourth at 01:15, in the Santa María district in the vicinity of Morelia's bandera monumental
Banderas monumentales
The banderas monumentales are a set of monuments located throughout Mexico. They are part of a program started in 1999 under President Ernesto Zedillo that is currently administered by the Secretariat of National Defense...
.
Suspects
The police have blamed drug cartelDrug cartel
Drug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
s for the grenade attacks, specifically the La Familia Michoacana
La Familia Michoacana (drug cartel)
La Familia Michoacana, La Familia , or LFM was a Mexican drug cartel and an organized crime syndicate based in the Mexican state of Michoacán...
gang. La Familia has denied it and instead blamed Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
. A week after the attacks, police arrested three men of the Los Zetas gang accused of throwing the grenades.
Context
Morelia is the home town of PresidentPresident of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
of the PAN
National Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
, although the state of Michocán has traditionally been controlled by the opposition PRI
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
and PRD
Party of the Democratic Revolution
The Party of the Democratic Revolution is a democratic socialist party in Mexico and one of 2 Mexican affiliates of the Socialist International...
. Michoacán has, since Calderón took office, been one of the federal government's focal points in its anti-drug efforts
Mexican Drug War
The Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
and initial suspicions indicated that the atrocity was probably the work of the drugs cartels, either part of a battle for territory or as a warning to the government. Condemnation of the incident across the country was unanimous, as such tactics of the drug lords in attacking random citizen congregations was unprecedented in Mexican history.