2022 Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor machete attacks

2022 Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor machete attacks
2022 Concurso Zapatero machete attacks Part of violence related to the Concurso Zapatero
Date	22 July 2022
Location	Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor metropolitan area
Caused by	Outcome of the Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor Liga Imperial football match Tensions of the Concurso Zapatero rivalry
Parties to the civil conflict
Tuxtla Martínez supporters Panachor supporters Creeperopolis National Police 55th Infantry Brigade Zapatista Departmental Police
Lead figures
Uncentralized José Quijano Molina Alfonso Castro Cañas Danilo Medina Sánchez Óscar Leyzaola Guzmán
Number
1,500 officers 1,000 soldiers
Casualties
Death(s)	15
Injuries	27
Arrested	22

On 22 July 2022, a series of widespread machete-related attacks and murders were reported in the Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor metropolitan area. The attacks were in relation to the result of a football match of the Liga Imperial played earlier in the day, which resulted in the outbreak of violence.

Background

On 22 July 2022 at 18:00 TSS, the opening match of the 2022–23 Liga Imperial season between CF Tuxtla Martínez and CF Panachor began. The match was held in Tuxtla Martínez in the Casa de Martínez Stadium, and the match was attended by 66,412 fans. CF Tuxtla Martínez won the match by a score of 3–1.

Prior to the match, the Creeperian Imperial Police and the police agencies of Zapatista, Tuxtla Martínez, and Panachor, were put on high alert and were notified at the potential of violence between fans. The two clubs are involved in a long running rivalry, known as the Concurso Zapatero, and it is one of the most emotional and violent sports rivalries in Creeperopolis.

Attacks

Following the match, reports of civilians armed with machetes patrolling the streets of both Tuxtla Martínez and Panachor were reported to various police agencies within the two cities. Police officers were mobilized to prevent violence from breaking out and to prevent mass casualties in relation to the match. Reports of attacks resulting in injuries and deaths then began to be reported, and as more reports were made, the mayors of Tuxtla Martínez, Panachor, and the surrounding towns of Acelhuate, Santa Concepción, and Palmas Altas issued requests to the Creeperian Army to intervene in the violence. Additionally, the police stated that it was tracking posts on Twitter which were threatening to commit machete attacks against specific individuals or in general, or which were stating that an individual or group of individuals were "going on patrol" or "hunting".

By 11:00 p.m. TSS, the Zapatista Departmental Police reported 15 confirmed deaths and 27 confirmed injuries. The police also stated that it had arrested 22 people in relation to the machete attacks, and that more arrests were expected to occur. Additionally, the army did get involved in the violence, and mobilized the 55th Infantry Brigade to patrol the streets of th metropolitan area to deter and suppress further attacks.

Responses

Danilo Medina Sánchez, the captain general of Zapatista, condemned the violence, and warned those involved in the attacks and those who were considering participating, that they would be convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in the Tuxtla Martínez–Panachor Maximum Correctional Facility (TMP), one of the worst prisons in Creeperopolis.

See also

Other incidents

• 2008 Panachor metro bombing
• 2012 Tuxtla Martínez stadium shooting
• 2013 Tuxtla Martínez stadium shooting
• 2015 Plaza Bella bombing
• 2019 Panachor stadium shooting