MEXICO CITY (VINnews) —Jewish community centers in Mexico’s Jalisco state suspended activities and advised members to remain indoors Sunday after a wave of violence erupted following a reported security operation against a senior cartel figure.
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Local reports said clashes broke out after authorities targeted a leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in the mountain town of Tapalpa. The unrest spread to Guadalajara and the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, with vehicles set ablaze, roads blocked and security forces deployed across key highways.
A Chabad center in Puerto Vallarta, led by Rabbi Shneur and Mushkie Hecht, reported an explosion in the vicinity of its building and said its staff were sheltering at home while checking on community members.
In the Lake Chapala area, Rabbi Abraham and Elisheva Srugo were traveling to officiate a wedding when they encountered multiple roadblocks and burned vehicles along the highway. They later returned home safely, and the ceremony was postponed.
Several airlines canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta as a precaution. The U.S. State Department advised Americans in affected areas to shelter in place because of security operations and blocked roads, and Canadian officials issued similar guidance.
Authorities said the violence appeared aimed largely at government forces and infrastructure, though it disrupted travel and daily life across the region. Community leaders said they were monitoring developments while awaiting a return to calm.