Masked gunmen set fire to a public market in the central Mexican city of Toluca on Monday, resulting in the deaths of nine people. This incident follows the recent discovery of human remains in various parts of the city. According to authorities, the attackers arrived at the market and opened fire before dousing a section of the market with a flammable substance and setting it ablaze. Three of the deceased victims appeared to be under 18 years old, but their identities have yet to be confirmed. In a statement, prosecutors revealed that they are investigating private security guards for allegedly abandoning their posts during the attack. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident in Toluca, which is located approximately 40 miles west of Mexico City. Toluca, the capital of the State of Mexico, is home to nearly a million residents and is considered part of the metropolitan area of Mexico City, with many individuals commuting to the capital for work. Fires at public markets in Mexico often occur as a result of gangs demanding protection payments from vendors. However, some fires have also been ignited due to disputes among vendors over the possession of commercial spaces within the markets. The state prosecutors stated that one of the primary lines of investigation is related to internal conflicts regarding the ownership of commercial spaces at the market. Last week, Toluca was rattled by the discovery of dismembered bodies and messages claiming responsibility from the violent Familia Michoacana drug cartel. Although the cartel originated in the neighboring state of Michoacan in the early 2000s, it has recently gained influence in the State of Mexico and its neighboring areas. The Familia Michoacana has gained notoriety for carrying out brutal attacks on police in Mexico State and local residents in Guerrero. The cartel specializes in methamphetamine production, smuggling, and the distribution of other synthetic drugs. Meanwhile, in Guerrero, four taxi drivers were shot to death over the weekend, and at least one of their vehicles was set on fire in and around the state capital of Chilpancingo. In late June, Chilpancingo experienced horrific drug gang violence when seven dismembered bodies were left on a downtown street along with a threatening message from a gang. The situation in Chilpancingo remains volatile, as hundreds of protesters from an outlying town entered the city to demand the release of fellow residents arrested on drug-related charges. The protesters briefly blocked the main highway from Mexico City to Acapulco before commandeering a police armored truck and ramming it into the gates of the state congress building. In a separate incident, a violent drug cartel, believed to be the Familia Michoacana, left a severed human leg hanging from a pedestrian bridge in Toluca. Throughout the day, additional body parts were discovered in different neighborhoods, accompanied by handwritten signs bearing the cartel"s signature. The victim in this case was a man between the ages of 35 and 40. Authorities found another dismembered body in a burning car in an industrial neighborhood, prompting an investigation into whether it is connected to the second victim. Similar incidents have occurred in Mexico before, with criminal gangs using mutilated bodies to intimidate their rivals. The mayor of Toluca, Raymundo Mart?­nez Carbajal, called for calm and emphasized the need for collective action against crime. The Familia Michoacana, which has historically dominated rural areas, appears to be expanding its influence to the state capital. Threatening banners signed by the cartel were discovered in a Toluca suburb last week. The escalation of violence in Toluca and Guerrero highlights the ongoing struggle between the Familia Michoacana and rival gangs. As the cartel seeks to extend its control, the region has witnessed ruthless attacks on law enforcement and residents alike. The discovery of dismembered bodies and threatening messages further underscores the brutality and intimidation tactics employed by these criminal organizations.