In a chilling act of violence that has rocked Mexico’s political elite, two senior aides to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada were assassinated Tuesday in what officials are calling a “direct and highly planned” attack.

The victims, identified as Ximena Guzmán, the mayor’s private secretary, and José Muñoz, a senior adviser, were ambushed while traveling to work in the capital’s Moderna neighborhood. The attack occurred along the busy corridor between Calzada de Tlalpan and Napoleón Street.

According to city authorities, their vehicle was intercepted en route, and both were fatally shot. The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office confirmed that a surveillance video circulating online—showing a gunman firing at a parked vehicle while an accomplice stood guard—may be linked to the incident. The footage is under official review.

Mayor Brugada, visibly shaken, described the pair as trusted members of her inner circle. “We are devastated,” she said. “Ximena was a kind and thoughtful soul, and José was one of the most brilliant minds I’ve had the honor to work with.”

Brugada holds one of the most influential political roles in the country, second only to President Claudia Sheinbaum. Both are prominent figures within the ruling Morena party, which has faced increasing security challenges as Mexico’s political violence spirals.

On Wednesday, Prosecutor Bertha Alcalde Luján announced that investigators have identified at least four individuals suspected of orchestrating the deadly ambush. She said the nature of the attack suggests it was carried out by experienced operatives and emphasized that authorities are not ruling out any motives at this stage.

In a joint statement, the Attorney General’s Office and the Citizen Security Secretariat confirmed that a motorcycle and a car possibly linked to the attack were seized during follow-up operations in the Iztacalco borough.

President Sheinbaum expressed her condolences and pledged full support for the investigation. “Ximena and José were part of our movement for many years. Their loss is a deep wound to our team and to the country,” she said during a press briefing. “We will pursue every lead to bring those responsible to justice.”

Rising Political Bloodshed

The attack underscores Mexico’s increasingly dangerous political climate. The country has witnessed a surge in politically motivated violence in recent years, with officials and candidates regularly targeted by criminal organizations and rival political factions.

Data from the civil society group Data Cívica revealed a staggering 661 politically motivated attacks in 2023 alone, the highest on record. Victims have included sitting officials as well as candidates for municipal office.

May 2024 has already seen a series of high-profile political assassinations. A mayoral candidate was shot dead during a campaign stop in Guerrero state, followed days later by the killing of Cotija’s mayor in Michoacán while returning from the gym. In Veracruz, gunmen opened fire at a campaign rally earlier this month, killing a candidate and three others in full view of a live audience.

As Mexico approaches a pivotal election season, the slaying of Guzmán and Muñoz serves as a grim reminder of the peril faced by public servants across the country.


By WafricNews Desk.