Violence erupts after El Mencho killing as unrest spreads across Mexico

Chaos has spread across mexico after the capture and death of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho, " touching off a wave of attacks that left at least 25 members of the National Guard dead and sent the government rushing troops and travel warnings to affected areas.

El Mencho captured in Tapalpa and died while being moved to the capital

Defence officials say Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and better known as "El Mencho, " was shot during an attempt to capture him in Tapalpa, in Jalisco state. He was seriously injured in a firefight between his bodyguards and military commandos and died while the military was transporting him to Mexico City.

Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said information that led to the initial capture stemmed from a romantic partner the leader was meeting. At least six of El Mencho's security guards were killed in the operation and three members of the Mexican military were injured.

Mexico violence spreads across states and key cities warned to shelter

Unrest erupted in at least 20 states after El Mencho's death on Sunday and then spread to at least a dozen more regions, with a code red security situation declared in Jalisco. As news of the leader's death spread, members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel launched attacks in many towns and cities where the CJNG is active, with videos showing gunmen patrolling streets and smoke billowing over cities.

Local scenes included buses set on fire and smoke billowing in Puerto Vallarta on Sunday, roads blocked by spikes and nails, and vehicles commandeered and torched in the middle of roads. Dozens of banks and local businesses were damaged after being set alight. Security secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said a prison guard, a member of the state prosecutor's office and 30 members of El Mencho's criminal organisation were killed in the unrest since his death, the AFP news agency said.

Casualties, troop deployments and police on guard

At least 25 members of the National Guard have died during the wave of violence, the security minister said, and the unrest has included gun shootouts with the military. Mexico has sent 2, 500 soldiers to the west of the country to bolster security, Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said on Monday. Pictures from Mexico City show members of the federal police guarding the security secretary's building.

President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the army operation that led to El Mencho's death and said her priority is to guarantee peace and security across the country: "There is calm, there is government, there are armed forces and there is a lot of co-ordination, " she said. Jalisco residents were warned to stay indoors as violence flared in the state.

Travel disruption: flights, advisories and airport resumptions

The violence has disrupted travel. The US government advised Americans in Jalisco to shelter indoors until further notice, and the US State Department opened a 24/7 crisis hotline for citizens impacted by the violence in mexico, calling on Americans to shelter in tourist hotspots including Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. The UK Foreign Office told Britons to shelter indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Canada cancelled flights to the Puerto Vallarta airport, while flight-tracking apps showed many aeroplanes returning to their departure destinations. Mexico's president said earlier that flights from Puerto Vallarta are expected to resume today or tomorrow. Airline Aeromexico announced flights to and from airports in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Tepic will gradually resume from today, and Lufthansa said it would be operating flights to Mexico from Frankfurt and Munich today.

What the CJNG is and why the unrest could have wider effects

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of Mexico's most powerful criminal organisations; its leader was the country's most wanted man before his death. The CJNG is estimated to be worth more than £10bn and to have tens of thousands of members, and it has been responsible for a series of massacres, kidnappings and killings of politicians since its formation in 2009. A CJNG member told the violence was in "revenge" for their leader's death.

Experts have warned that pushing on cartel leadership can produce violent pushback. Javier Eskauriatza, assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Nottingham, said the power vacuum created by El Mencho's killing could lead to further instability as contenders vie to replace him and that cartels have an economic interest in keeping big events peaceful because they own local businesses, hotels and restaurants.

Officials say roadblocks had been cleared by Monday morning in some areas, but the immediate aftermath has left towns on edge and security forces deployed. Recovery operations, flight resumptions and troop movements are the next confirmed steps in the government's response.