13 police officers have been shot dead in the North American country of Mexico. The incident happened on Monday (October 23) in the province of Guerrero in southern Mexico. The policemen said that they were engaged in regular patrolling at that time.
It is reported that the security chief of a local town is among the dead. The gunmen ambushed and shot dead the police officers, mainly while on anti-narcotics patrol.
A provincial government source said the local security chief of the town of Coyuca de Benitez was among the dead. The city is located west of the popular beach resort of Acapulco.
In a statement on Monday night, provincial officials said, “We are shocked by this sudden incident.” Security will be beefed up by sending Navy personnel and National Guard agents to the area.
Separate reports said at least 11 police officers and a security chief were killed in Mexico’s southern Guerrero province, citing police sources.
They said unidentified gunmen attacked a police security patrol in the municipality of Coyuca de Benitez, just west of the Pacific resort of Acapulco.
Mexico’s Guerrero province is plagued by drug-trafficking-related violence. Various groups in the area are in conflict over control of this lucrative drug route north of the Pacific Corridor.
Apart from this, large quantities of opium and heroin are produced in this region. Gunmen shot and killed the mayor of a small town in Guerrero last year. Authorities blamed drug gangs for the attack.
Earlier in 2021, gunmen attacked security forces in broad daylight while patrolling the Llano Grande area of Cotepec Horinas municipality in Mexico. 13 police officers were also killed in that attack.
