Masked and armed individuals attacked a public market, leading to the death of nine people by shooting and fire. 

The assault took place in Toluca, a city located in the heart of Mexico, where the attackers reportedly launched a shooting spree and set a portion of the market ablaze. Post the horrifying act, the perpetrators fled the scene, leaving destruction and sadness in their wake.

Authorities are currently investigating private security guards who seemingly abandoned their posts during the attack. 

Among the deceased, three are suspected to be minors, but their identities are yet to be confirmed.

The unclaimed assault occurred roughly 40 miles west of Mexico City, in Toluca, an urban area with a population nearing a million. Many of its residents commute daily to Mexico City for work. The Toluca market is the second largest in Mexico, with 26,000 visitors a day.

In Mexico, public markets are frequently targeted by gangs demanding protection money from vendors. Other disputes are between vendors and market owners. Following this line, the State of Mexico prosecutors are examining if the Toluca attack is linked to internal disputes over market control within the commercial zones.

This incident comes after news from the southern state of Guerrero, where four taxi drivers were recently killed. Over the past weekend, a taxi was found burnt in the state capital, Chilpancingo.

Just a week prior, Toluca was shocked by the discovery of at least two dismembered bodies, suspected to be the work of the notorious drug cartel, Familia Michoacana. Founded in the early 2000s in the neighboring state of Michoacan, the gang has since established a presence in the State of Mexico and Guerrero, despite being driven out from Michoacan. The Familia Michoacana is known for its ruthlessly violent tactics, often targeting local residents in Guerrero and police officers in the Mexico State.