16 die in killing spree in N Mexico

MEXICO CITY. December 23. KAZINFORM At least 16 people, including five suspected attackers, were killed Thursday in Mexico's northern coastal state of Veracruz, in a series of violent incidents, authorities said; Kazinform refers to China Daily.

The state's general attorney said the incident occurred in the morning on Veracruz's border with northeastern Tamaulipas state. An armed group of five staged two attacks before all were killed in a shootout with Mexican armed forces.

Veracruz state government spokeswoman Gina Dominguez said the first attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the group attacked three buses on the Tempoal-Panuco, killing seven passengers.

The same group later killed four people in the municipality of El Higo. A few hours later, the suspects were killed in a clash with the Mexican army. Authorities seized an armored van, 5 rifles, 54 magazines of ammunition and eight mobile phones, according to official reports.

In October, the Mexican government launched operation "Veracruz Insurance", deploying federal forces and strengthening intelligence work to ensure security in the area, which has been shaken by a wave of violence; Kazinform cites China Daily.

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