Deadly car bomb in Juarez is a first for Mexican drug gangs

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For the first time, Mexican drug gangs have used a car bomb to attack police and civilians, the Army says.

Yesterday in downtown Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, a car packed with 22 pounds of C4 explosives and detonated by mobile phone killed two police officers and a paramedic, and wounded at least 16 other civilians or officers. (Agence France-Presse reports a doctor was also killed.)

Police called the attack retaliation for the arrest of Jesus Acosta Guerrero, a leader of the La Linea drug gang, which is affiliated with the Juarez cartel.

Mayor Jose Reyes told the Associated Press the attackers set a trap for federal police before detonating the explosive inside a parked car after police and paramedics responded to a report of an injured officer.

The El Paso Times tells a different story, saying that a Ford Focus rammed two police cars and that the explosion "occurred soon after." It was heard and seen in both cities.

The report cites Mexico's attorney general, saying he "ruled out narco-terrorism" at a morning news conference in Mexico City.

Police initially believed the explosion was caused by grenades thrown by gunmen.

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