Republished February 27, 2018 - 1:29 PM
Original Publication Date February 27, 2018 - 8:41 AM
MEXICO CITY - One of Mexico's more peaceful states has reported an outbreak of drug gang violence in which at least 13 people died.
The prosecutors' office in the north-central state of Guanajuato said late Monday that 13 bodies found shot or burned to death over the weekend were "related to organized crime," though it didn't identify the gangs involved.
A 14th body had been hacked up and has not yet been identified.
The bodies were found in the twin towns of Apaseo El Alto and Apaseo El Grande. The towns were once best known for hand-crafted wooden furniture, but have been plagued in recent years by thieves stealing fuel from pipelines and robbing passing trains.
Banners, hand-lettered signs and videos posts on social media in the state indicate the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is moving into the area.
Guanajuato had a homicide rate of 18.5 per 100,000 residents in 2017, below the national average of 20.5.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018