MEXICO: Drug shootout with army kills 14 in Xalapa

Record ID: 303821

  • Title: MEXICO: Drug shootout with army kills 14 in Xalapa
  • Date: 15th January 2011
  • Summary: XALAPA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO (originally 4:3) (JANUARY 14, 2011) (REUTERS) SOLDIER OUTSIDE SAFE HOUSE WHERE SHOOTOUT TOOK PLACE SOLDIER BEHIND LIGHT POST MORE OF SOLDIER / SAFE HOUSE SEIZED VEHICLE SEEN IN GARAGE BUILDING WITH BULLET HOLES SEEN ON WALL AND WINDOWS SOLDIERS OUTSIDE BUILDING / ENTERING MORE SOLDIERS / ON VEHICLE VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS OUTSIDE HOUSE / BULLET HOLES VARIOUS OF HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARMY COMMANDER, CARLOS AGUILAR, SAYING: "They (soldiers) fired back. Twelve suspected drug gang members died at the scene. Troops seized five rifles, three guns." MORE OF HOUSE EXTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA58I1SWG61X263U2K3RTY3D4RQ
  • Story Text: Deadly clash between suspected drug hitmen and army leaves 12 gunmen and two army officers dead in Xalapa, Veracruz.
    Twelve suspected drug gang members and two soldiers were killed in an army raid in the Mexican eastern state of Veracruz on Thursday (January 13), the army said in a press release.
    Soldiers were sent to the location in the city of Xalapa after receiving an anonymous tip-off. Fighting began when the men opened fire on the troops.
    Troops seized two stolen vehicles and two dozens of weapons.
    "They (soldiers) fired back. Twelve suspected drug gang members died at the scene. Troops seized five rifles, three guns," said Army Commander, Carlos Aguilar.
    In November last year, a mayor-elect from Veracruz was kidnapped and killed along with two companions.
    The reports did not link the killings to the violence sweeping Mexico as the government fights powerful drug cartels but several mayors and other elected officials have been targeted by drug gangs in recent months.
    More than 34,000 people have been killed across Mexico since December 2006, when Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office and launched his army-led crackdown against drug cartels.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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