Three distinct armed attacks in Mexico on Monday resulted in a total of 24 fatalities, including a dozen police officers, in regions heavily affected by drug-related violence. The attacks occurred

in the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, and Puebla, marking an "extraordinary" surge in pre-electoral violence. Guerrero, in particular, has experienced intense conflict in the past, but the current levels of violence leading up to the elections have been exceptionally high.

Despite President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's emphasis on a "hugs not bullets" strategy to address crime, the country's murder rate has surged over the years. Guerrero and Michoacan, two of the most violent areas, have become hotspots for confrontations between rival drug traffickers and security forces. While violence often intensifies ahead of elections in Mexico, the recent wave of violence has been notably shocking. Photo by Dickelbers, Wikimedia commons.