A horrific attack unfolded in Toluca, Mexico, on Monday, claiming the lives of nine people. Masked assailants stormed a public market, opened fire, and then ignited a fire before escaping. Authorities are investigating the incident, with early suspicions pointing towards internal disputes over market spaces as a potential motive.

Three of the victims are believed to be minors, though official identifications are still pending. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred approximately 40 miles west of Mexico City in Toluca, a city considered part of the capital's metropolitan area.

While market fires in Mexico are often linked to extortion attempts by gangs, disputes among vendors are also a known cause. Prosecutors in the State of Mexico, where Toluca is located, are focusing their investigation on possible internal conflicts related to vendor spaces within the market.

This tragic event follows other recent instances of violence in central Mexico. Just last week, dismembered bodies were found in Toluca, with signs indicating the involvement of the Familia Michoacana cartel. This same cartel is believed to be involved in a bloody turf war in the neighboring state of Guerrero, where four taxi drivers were recently murdered. The violence in Guerrero escalated in June with the gruesome discovery of dismembered bodies in Chilpancingo, the state capital.

The Familia Michoacana cartel, originating in Michoacan in the early 2000s, has gained notoriety for its brutal attacks on both law enforcement and civilians. Despite being largely driven out of its home state, the cartel has established a presence in the State of Mexico and Guerrero, contributing to the escalating violence in the region.