[excivaamome]

At least 17 killed in Mexico massacre

From correspondents in Torreon, Mexico
From: AFP
July 19, 2010 10:50AM



Attackers armed with machine guns targeted a party at a recreation centre outside the northern Mexican city of Torreon near the US border during the pre-dawn hours on Sunday, killing at least 17 people. By News Wires (text)
Authorities said the heavily armed attackers also wounded 10 others as they sprayed bullets through a recreation centre in Coahuila state, near Mexico's northern border with the United States. A source with the state police department said that witnesses reported hearing the group yell ``kill them all'' before they opened fire.

The attack took place about 1.30am (4.30pm Sunday) yesterday at the recreation centre which is a popular weekend party spot. Authorities said they found more than 200 bullet casings fired from automatic weapons following the massacre. Northern Mexican border areas - on key trafficking routes into the United States - have seen some of the fiercest fighting between Mexico's powerful drug gangs and with security forces in recent years.

Almost 25,000 people have died in a spiralling drug-related violence in the past three and a half years in Mexico amid a military crackdown on organised crime involving about 50,000 troops.