Page 35 - MINISTER ARTHUR DOWERS
P. 35
WORLD NEWS A11
Monday 25 May 2015
Many questions in Mexico cartel battle that killed 43
E. CASTILLO where patrol cars of many Police officers walk near the entrance of Rancho del Sol, near Ecuanduero, in western Mexico. At
K. CORCORAN agencies could be seen least 43 people died this weekend in what authorities described as a fierce, three-hour gunbattle
Associated Press parked, and police guard- between federal forces and suspected drug gang gunmen at the ranch.
ECUANDUREO, Mexico (AP) ed all entrances to the
— The call for backup went property, even dirt paths (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
out to local police after 8 lead onto the 112-hectare
a.m. There was a shootout (277-acre) property known the responsible group has carrying armed men who two smaller arms, a gre-
underway at a ranch in the as Rancho de Sol. its base in Jalisco state. opened fire, and when nade launcher that had
western reaches of Micho- Photographs from the site Government officials said government forces chased been fired and a .50-cali-
acan state and the federal showed the bodies of men the shooting broke out ear- the gunmen onto the ber rifle, Rubido said.
authorities needed help. without shirts and some ly Friday as federal authori- ranch, they came under He said eight vehicles also
One patrolman said he without shoes strewn over ties responded to a com- heavy fire from others, Ru- were confiscated, six of
sped with his colleagues the ranch, in an area near plaint of armed men taking bido said. them set ablaze by a fire
from a town 20 minutes the Michoacan border over the ranch. Authorities detained three inside a storehouse that
away and arrived at the with Jalisco state that is a Federal forces heading people and confiscated 36 created a black plume of
scene Friday to see bullets stronghold of the Jalisco to the ranch met a truck semi-automatic weapons, smoke seen for miles.q
flying and military and po- New Generation cartel,
lice helicopters hovering one of the most powerful
overhead in what would and fastest-growing orga-
become the deadliest con- nized crime groups to sur-
frontation with suspected face in recent years.
cartel members in recent The bodies, some appear-
memory. ing to lie with semi-auto-
“It looked like a battlefield,” matic rifles, lay in fields,
the officer said Saturday, next to farm equipment
insisting that on anonymity and on a blood-stained
like everyone at the scene. patio strewn with clothes,
The bloodshed at the ranch mattresses and sleeping
left 42 suspected criminals bags. Video of the battle
dead. obtained by The Associ-
One federal police officer ated Press showed federal
died while trying to aid a police officers coming un-
wounded comrade, gov- der fire.
ernment officials said. While National Security
Investigators and human Commissioner Monte Ale-
rights officials continued to jandro Rubido wouldn’t
work Saturday at the scene, name the cartel, he said
