In a Mexican town, unknown people shot 18 people, including the mayor

“18 people were killed and two injured in the city of San Miguel Totolapan. Among the dead were Mayor Conrado Mendoza and his father, the former mayor of the city. Two more people were injured. Footage from the scene shows the bullet-riddled city hall building," AP reports , citing a statement by State Attorney General Sandra Luz Valdovinos.

According to the Mexican TV channel Milenio , the mayor's father was killed at home, apart from the others. Later, in the city of Cuernavaca, a deputy from the neighboring state of Morelos was shot dead by two unknown men on a motorcycle.

According to one version, local drug gangs are behind the attacks. At the same time, the town of San Miguel Totolapan itself is a disputed territory at the same time by several criminal gangs that are constantly fighting for it. Attempts by the Mexican authorities to reduce the crime situation in the region did not bring peace to the population - the army is involved in maintaining security in the region. In 2016, the inhabitants of the town became so desperate because of the kidnappings by the Los Tequileros bandits that the inhabitants of the settlement themselves kidnapped the mother of the gang leader and demanded the release of those held captive. Shortly before the attack on the city hall, members of the group announced their return - four years ago, the gang broke up after the death of the leader during a shootout with the police.

After these attacks, the number of mayors killed during President López Obrador's tenure rose to 18, and the number of state deputies killed to six.