19 gunmen killed in clashes with Mexico police

Clashes killed 19 gunmen and injured five police officers in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, the heart of operations of some of the country's biggest drug traffickers, authorities said yesterday.

The incident occurred late Friday when a group of gunmen clashed with Mazatlan city police who were on a routine tour led by local police chief Joel Ernesto Soto.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The confrontation began around 8:00 pm (0100 GMT) in the town of Villa Union when police repelled the gunmen's assault, Sinaloa deputy secretary of security Cristobal Castaneda said.

The 19 men, who were riding in four vehicles, pursued their confrontation by a highway, where they were killed by municipal police.

"They faced quite a number of aggressors, but thanks to their training and professionalism, they managed to get ahead. The wounded policemen are well," Castaneda told reporters.