The police in one of Mexico’s largest cities were witness to a gruesome sight as they found seven dead bodies inside a car on a busy street, each with “hand-written messages” detailing why they were killed.&nbsp;

<h2>What we know about the incident</h2>

According to the prosecutors in the central state of Puebla, Mexico, out of the seven bodies found, five were decapitated, and another was completely dismembered.&nbsp;

The car, inside which the bodies were found, was reportedly left in the middle of traffic on a main expressway in the city of Puebla, on Friday (Apr 5).

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“On each of the bodies, we found hand-written messages written on paper, each one detailing the reason they were killed,” said Puebla state chief prosecutor Gilberto Higuera.

However, he did not mention whether the deaths might be related to drug cartels but said that the car was stolen.&nbsp;

Higuera added that the incident was “not only a dispute (between gangs) but also something related to dominance over certain people, aimed at not only domination, but recruitment.”&nbsp;

The police came to know about the car as it was blocking the traffic on the city’s main ring road.&nbsp;

Notably, while drug cartel murders are common, these grisly killings have garnered attention as they occurred in the relatively affluent city of Puebla.&nbsp;

Puebla is Mexico’s fifth largest city and witnesses relatively less drug cartel-related violence. However, it is not entirely spared, as the state has witnessed 200 murders in the first three months of this year, according to the data from Puebla state prosecutor’s office.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexicos-president-mourns-killing-of-two-local-candidates-ahead-of-general-elections-707037">Mexico president mourns killing of two local candidates ahead of general elections&nbsp;</a>

It is also not uncommon for some cartels in Mexico, when they seek to establish a territory as their own to kill rivals, petty thieves or drug dealers, and leave a message telling the locals that such activities will not be tolerated under their rule.&nbsp;

<h2>Two local candidates killed ahead of elections</h2>

Earlier this month, a mayoral and a city council candidate in the Mexican city of Celaya were killed ahead of the country’s general elections which have been marred by violence.&nbsp;

Bertha Gisela Gaytán, a mayoral candidate for Celaya, was killed in a shooting on April 1, hours after she requested protection, while city council candidate Adrián Guerrero, who was wounded during the same attack, died the next day.&nbsp;

At least 14 candidates have been killed since the beginning of this year and ahead of the June 2 elections.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The police in one of Mexico’s largest cities were witness to a gruesome sight as they found seven dead bodies inside a car on a busy street, each with “hand-written messages” detailing why they were killed.

The police in one of Mexico’s largest cities were witness to a gruesome sight as they found seven dead bodies inside a car on a busy street, each with “hand-written messages” detailing why they were killed. What we know about the incident According to the prosecutors in the central state of Puebla, Mexico, out of the seven bodies found, five were decapitated, and another was completely dismembered. The car, inside which the bodies were found, was reportedly left in the middle of traffic on a main expressway in the city of Puebla, on Friday (Apr 5). Also Read | Mexico's diplomatic staff leave Ecuador as Latin American nations, UN chief condemn embassy raid “On each of the bodies, we found hand-written messages written on paper, each one detailing the reason they were killed,” said Puebla state chief prosecutor Gilberto Higuera. However, he did not mention whether the deaths might be related to drug cartels but said that the car was stolen. Higuera added that the incident was “not only a dispute (between gangs) but also something related to dominance over certain people, aimed at not only domination, but recruitment.” The police came to know about the car as it was blocking the traffic on the city’s main ring road. Notably, while drug cartel murders are common, these grisly killings have garnered attention as they occurred in the relatively affluent city of Puebla. Puebla is Mexico’s fifth largest city and witnesses relatively less drug cartel-related violence. However, it is not entirely spared, as the state has witnessed 200 murders in the first three months of this year, according to the data from Puebla state prosecutor’s office. Also Read | Mexico president mourns killing of two local candidates ahead of general elections It is also not uncommon for some cartels in Mexico, when they seek to establish a territory as their own to kill rivals, petty thieves or drug dealers, and leave a message telling the locals that such activities will not be tolerated under their rule. Two local candidates killed ahead of elections Earlier this month, a mayoral and a city council candidate in the Mexican city of Celaya were killed ahead of the country’s general elections which have been marred by violence. Bertha Gisela Gaytán, a mayoral candidate for Celaya, was killed in a shooting on April 1, hours after she requested protection, while city council candidate Adrián Guerrero, who was wounded during the same attack, died the next day. At least 14 candidates have been killed since the beginning of this year and ahead of the June 2 elections. (With inputs from agencies)

Mexico: Police find 7 bodies, 5 of them decapitated, with ‘handwritten messages’ inside car

A dog has helped authorities to find 53 bags of human remains found scattered around a clandestine graveyard in a Mexican region, which was once riddled with cartel gang violence.

In late October, residents of Irapuato town in Guanajuato state witnessed a dog carrying a human hand in its mouth.

Since then, an NGO group and&nbsp;forensic experts have been converging at the grave to exhume more bodies.

"While people from all over the world were celebrating the Cervantino festival, we were digging up bodies, and at the same time I thought it was useless because they were burying more people elsewhere," Mendoza, founder of a women's collective searching for missing persons, told AFP news agency.

The search comes in the wake of recent gang violence plaguing Guanajuato, an industrial hub home to factories of foreign auto giants. Around 300 victims of violence have been found dead in similar circumstances in recent months.

According to official data, people feel most unsafe in Irapuato among the Mexican municipalities.

Guanajuato, and its adjoining places, have seen a rise in cartel turf wars. From January to September this year, the region has witnessed more than 2,400 murders —almost 10 per cent of the national total.

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Nearly 3,000 more people disappeared in the same period, reports AFP news agency.

Reports say that the violence for the turf is primarily between the Jalisco New Generation and Santa Rosa de Lima cartels.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-supreme-leader-khamenei-warns-foreign-enemies-may-target-workers-as-protests-over-dress-code-rage-535792">Iran's supreme leader Khamenei warns 'foreign enemies' may target workers as protests rage</a>

And for them, Guanajuato is an important drug corridor, along with other routes between Pacific ports and the United States, security expert David Saucedo told the news agency.

“It's part of the fentanyl and cocaine routes," he was quoted as saying.

Though there has been a rise in the crackdown against the drug cartels, the state government has been unsuccessful to rein them in.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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A dog has helped authorities to find 53 bags of human remains found scattered around a clandestine graveyard in a Mexican region, which was once riddled with cartel gang violence.

A dog has helped authorities to find 53 bags of human remains found scattered around a clandestine graveyard in a Mexican region, which was once riddled with cartel gang violence. In late October, residents of Irapuato town in Guanajuato state witnessed a dog carrying a human hand in its mouth. Since then, an NGO group and forensic experts have been converging at the grave to exhume more bodies. "While people from all over the world were celebrating the Cervantino festival, we were digging up bodies, and at the same time I thought it was useless because they were burying more people elsewhere," Mendoza, founder of a women's collective searching for missing persons, told AFP news agency. The search comes in the wake of recent gang violence plaguing Guanajuato, an industrial hub home to factories of foreign auto giants. Around 300 victims of violence have been found dead in similar circumstances in recent months. According to official data, people feel most unsafe in Irapuato among the Mexican municipalities. Guanajuato, and its adjoining places, have seen a rise in cartel turf wars. From January to September this year, the region has witnessed more than 2,400 murders —almost 10 per cent of the national total. Also read | Iran arrests prominent actresses for supporting anti-hijab protests Nearly 3,000 more people disappeared in the same period, reports AFP news agency. Reports say that the violence for the turf is primarily between the Jalisco New Generation and Santa Rosa de Lima cartels. Also read | Iran's supreme leader Khamenei warns 'foreign enemies' may target workers as protests rage And for them, Guanajuato is an important drug corridor, along with other routes between Pacific ports and the United States, security expert David Saucedo told the news agency. “It's part of the fentanyl and cocaine routes," he was quoted as saying. Though there has been a rise in the crackdown against the drug cartels, the state government has been unsuccessful to rein them in. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

How a dog helped Mexican authorities find unclaimed bodies

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels.

According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday.

The assailants were reportedly targeting four men who were at one home, killing them and a woman, the authorities said.

At a nearby house, a one-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also died of gun wounds, police said, adding that it wasn’t clear whether these two were specifically targeted or hit by stray bullets during the gun assault.

Guanajuato state prosecutors said three other people were wounded and were in serious condition at local hospitals.

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The gangs have been fighting over control of the lucrative drug trafficking and stolen fuel markets, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.

State interior secretary Libia García expressed condolences to the lives lost and assured to bring perpetrators to justice.

“What happened today in Silao hurts us deeply and as the government of Guanajuato, we will continue to work together to give no quarter to those cowards who take other peoples' lives,” Libia García wrote in her Twitter account.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-mexico-border-arrests-reach-record-highs-reveals-report-423367">US-Mexico border: Arrests reach record highs, reveals report</a>

“Justice will be done for the victims.”

In mid-November, two similar attacks took place in which 11 people were killed in Silao.

Guanajuato has become one of Mexico's most violent states due to fighting between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

Since 2006 when the government launched a controversial anti-drug military operation, Mexico has recorded more than 300,000 murders, according to official figures.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels. According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday.

Two children were among 8 killed during a gun attack in the central Mexico region which is rife with turf wars between drug cartels. According to officials, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire at homes in the Silao municipality of Guanajuato state late Tuesday. The assailants were reportedly targeting four men who were at one home, killing them and a woman, the authorities said. At a nearby house, a one-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl also died of gun wounds, police said, adding that it wasn’t clear whether these two were specifically targeted or hit by stray bullets during the gun assault. Guanajuato state prosecutors said three other people were wounded and were in serious condition at local hospitals. Also read | Indian travel blogger killed in Mexico gang shootout The gangs have been fighting over control of the lucrative drug trafficking and stolen fuel markets, according to the regional prosecutor’s office. State interior secretary Libia García expressed condolences to the lives lost and assured to bring perpetrators to justice. “What happened today in Silao hurts us deeply and as the government of Guanajuato, we will continue to work together to give no quarter to those cowards who take other peoples' lives,” Libia García wrote in her Twitter account. Also Read | US-Mexico border: Arrests reach record highs, reveals report “Justice will be done for the victims.” In mid-November, two similar attacks took place in which 11 people were killed in Silao. Guanajuato has become one of Mexico's most violent states due to fighting between the Santa Rosa de Lima and Jalisco New Generation cartels. Since 2006 when the government launched a controversial anti-drug military operation, Mexico has recorded more than 300,000 murders, according to official figures. (With inputs from agencies)

Two children among 8 killed in Mexico gun attack

The Mexican Army and state security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

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Widely known as "El Marro" (The Mallet), Yepez was captured early on Sunday morning in Guanajuato state, according to the federal government and authorities in the central region, one of the principal flashpoints of gang violence in Mexico.

"This a tremendously successful blow for the government," said Raul Benitez, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Boss of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a Guanajuato-based gang, Yepez has been engaged in a bloody struggle for criminal control of the state with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country's most powerful and violent groups.

Yepez, 40, is the most high-profile arrest made yet under Lopez Obrador, who pledged to bring down record levels of violence plaguing Mexico when he took office in December 2018.

Instead, homicides have further increased during the Lopez Obrador presidency and last October his government suffered serious embarrassment when it botched the detention of Ovidio Guzman, a son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The Guanajuato attorney general's office said soldiers and state security forces captured Yepez with five other people and rescued a kidnapped local businesswoman during the operation. An "arsenal" of weapons was also secured during the raid.

Mexican news network Milenio broadcast a video of the night-time arrest, which it said took place in the tiny village of Franco Tavera, a few miles north of the municipality of Villagran where the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel was born.

Wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers, and flanked by several soldiers, Yepez gives his full name and age before also identifying himself as "Marro."

Security forces have been gradually closing in on Yepez but he had managed to evade capture thanks to a tight network of informers who allowed him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, according to analysts and media reports.

&nbsp;

LUCRATIVE TRADE

One of Mexico's most-wanted bosses, El Marro has appeared in expletive-laden videos threatening his enemies, and in June a clip of an emotional Yepez lamenting the arrest of his mother and sister was widely broadcast on national media.

The women, who were suspected of aiding his operations, were later released when judges picked apart the case against them.

Initially notorious for fuel theft in a state crisscrossed by pipelines and home to a major oil refinery, the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel has become increasingly embroiled in battles with the CJNG, based in the neighboring state of Jalisco.

Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of fuel were being stolen every year before Lopez Obrador cracked down a few weeks after taking office.

Abetted by the complicity of corrupt employees within state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the lucrative activity gave the Santa Rosa de Lima outfit outsize financial heft, said security analyst Benitez.

"It's even more money than cocaine," he said.

Lopez Obrador blamed corruption at Pemex for fuel theft and the new management he appointed has vowed to root it out.

Yepez's interrogation could yield rich information on corruption inside Pemex, Benitez said.

His detention also suggested that U.S. and Mexican security services had intensified cooperation to crack down on the trafficking of potent opiate fentanyl, a business of which Yepez was trying to secure a bigger share, he added.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau hailed news of the arrest in Guanajuato in a post on Twitter.

A hub of the carmaking industry, Guanajuato was once one of the safer regions of Mexico. But recent violence there has pushed national homicide tallies to record levels.

Once the government dismantles the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, Benitez said, it can turn up the pressure on the CJNG, which in late June was blamed for a brazen assassination attempt on Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch.

El Marro's adversary, CJNG boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, is arguably the most wanted crime boss in Mexico now.

"Now 'El Mencho' is next up," Benitez said.

Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano maximum-security prison where "El Chapo" Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015.

Guzman was recaptured in 2016, extradited in 2017 and convicted of drug trafficking by a U.S. court in 2019.

The Mexican Army and state security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The Mexican Army and state security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Also read: Deaths due to virus in Latin America and Caribbean exceeds 200,000: Tally Widely known as "El Marro" (The Mallet), Yepez was captured early on Sunday morning in Guanajuato state, according to the federal government and authorities in the central region, one of the principal flashpoints of gang violence in Mexico. "This a tremendously successful blow for the government," said Raul Benitez, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Boss of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a Guanajuato-based gang, Yepez has been engaged in a bloody struggle for criminal control of the state with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country's most powerful and violent groups. Yepez, 40, is the most high-profile arrest made yet under Lopez Obrador, who pledged to bring down record levels of violence plaguing Mexico when he took office in December 2018. Instead, homicides have further increased during the Lopez Obrador presidency and last October his government suffered serious embarrassment when it botched the detention of Ovidio Guzman, a son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The Guanajuato attorney general's office said soldiers and state security forces captured Yepez with five other people and rescued a kidnapped local businesswoman during the operation. An "arsenal" of weapons was also secured during the raid. Mexican news network Milenio broadcast a video of the night-time arrest, which it said took place in the tiny village of Franco Tavera, a few miles north of the municipality of Villagran where the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel was born. Wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers, and flanked by several soldiers, Yepez gives his full name and age before also identifying himself as "Marro." Security forces have been gradually closing in on Yepez but he had managed to evade capture thanks to a tight network of informers who allowed him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, according to analysts and media reports. LUCRATIVE TRADE One of Mexico's most-wanted bosses, El Marro has appeared in expletive-laden videos threatening his enemies, and in June a clip of an emotional Yepez lamenting the arrest of his mother and sister was widely broadcast on national media. The women, who were suspected of aiding his operations, were later released when judges picked apart the case against them. Initially notorious for fuel theft in a state crisscrossed by pipelines and home to a major oil refinery, the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel has become increasingly embroiled in battles with the CJNG, based in the neighboring state of Jalisco. Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of fuel were being stolen every year before Lopez Obrador cracked down a few weeks after taking office. Abetted by the complicity of corrupt employees within state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the lucrative activity gave the Santa Rosa de Lima outfit outsize financial heft, said security analyst Benitez. "It's even more money than cocaine," he said. Lopez Obrador blamed corruption at Pemex for fuel theft and the new management he appointed has vowed to root it out. Yepez's interrogation could yield rich information on corruption inside Pemex, Benitez said. His detention also suggested that U.S. and Mexican security services had intensified cooperation to crack down on the trafficking of potent opiate fentanyl, a business of which Yepez was trying to secure a bigger share, he added. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau hailed news of the arrest in Guanajuato in a post on Twitter. A hub of the carmaking industry, Guanajuato was once one of the safer regions of Mexico. But recent violence there has pushed national homicide tallies to record levels. Once the government dismantles the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, Benitez said, it can turn up the pressure on the CJNG, which in late June was blamed for a brazen assassination attempt on Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch. El Marro's adversary, CJNG boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, is arguably the most wanted crime boss in Mexico now. "Now 'El Mencho' is next up," Benitez said. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano maximum-security prison where "El Chapo" Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015. Guzman was recaptured in 2016, extradited in 2017 and convicted of drug trafficking by a U.S. court in 2019.

Mexico nabs 'El Marro', fuel theft king blamed for surge in drug violence

Mexican-American Mormons bad blood with drug cartels

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-begins-formal-exit-from-paris-climate-pact-259963">Donald&nbsp;Trump</a>&nbsp;offered Tuesday to help&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area&nbsp;and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war"&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels.

Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family,&nbsp;a large clan of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who emigrated to&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;in the late 19th century,&nbsp;on&nbsp;a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States.

Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred.

"If&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing &amp; able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively,"&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;wrote in a tweet.

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A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these.....
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He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!

"This is the time for&nbsp;Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage&nbsp;WAR&nbsp;on&nbsp;the drug&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and wipe them off the face of the earth."

Lopez Obrador&nbsp;said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived&nbsp;on&nbsp;the Mexican side but had dual nationality.

But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to&nbsp;Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one.

"We don't agree (with&nbsp;Trump)&nbsp;on&nbsp;that," he told a news conference. "War&nbsp;is synonymous with irrationality."

He later tweeted that he had thanked&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;for his support in a phone call.

The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;and other criminal gangs.

"President&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman&nbsp;Hogan Gidley.&nbsp;

Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region.

"It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula.

He said the women were&nbsp;on&nbsp;their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked.

Several children managed to escape and return home&nbsp;on&nbsp;foot, he added.

Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body.

An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed.

Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona.

Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug&nbsp;cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked.

The LeBaron community are descendants of&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens.

One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC.

Mitt Romney said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks."

It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother.

The murder came after the&nbsp;Mormons&nbsp;refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released.

The region around the 3,145-kilometer&nbsp;US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime.

Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier.

Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down&nbsp;on&nbsp;illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry.

Mexico&nbsp;has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006.

Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented&nbsp;cartels&nbsp;battle each other and the army.

Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears&nbsp;on&nbsp;track to set a new murder record in&nbsp;Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels.

President Donald Trump offered Tuesday to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area and said the United States stood ready to back its southern neighbor in a "war" on the drug cartels. Gunmen ambushed the members of the LeBaron family, a large clan of Mormons who emigrated to Mexico in the late 19th century, on a rural road Monday between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, which border the United States. Three women and six children were killed, including two twin babies, said relatives and Mexican officials. Six children were also wounded in the attack, which left the family's three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred. "If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing & able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively," Trump wrote in a tweet. A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2019 × He praised Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking, but said "the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army! "This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth." Lopez Obrador said he would accept "all necessary cooperation" to get justice for the victims, all of whom lived on the Mexican side but had dual nationality. But the left-wing populist, who has declared an end to Mexico's "drug wars," said he was not looking for a new one. "We don't agree (with Trump) on that," he told a news conference. "War is synonymous with irrationality." He later tweeted that he had thanked Trump for his support in a phone call. The White House said the presidents had spoken about the "growing violent behavior" of drugs cartels and other criminal gangs. "President Trump made clear that the United States condemns these senseless acts of violence that took the lives of nine American citizens and offered Mexico assistance to ensure the perpetrators face justice," said spokesman Hogan Gidley. Devastated members of the LeBaron family took to social media to call for people's prayers and condemn the lawless violence gripping much of the border region. "It was a massacre," Julian LeBaron, an activist who has denounced criminal groups in the area, told Mexican radio network Formula. He said the women were on their way to the airport with their children when their SUVs were attacked. Several children managed to escape and return home on foot, he added. Another, a three-month-old baby, was found wounded but alive beneath her mother's body. An eight-year-old girl was also left missing for about 24 hours, before being found several kilometers away, unharmed. Relatives said the children were all deeply traumatized. Five wounded children were airlifted for medical treatment in Phoenix, Arizona. Mexican Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said the family may have been mistakenly targeted or caught in the crossfire in turf wars between rival drug cartels. LeBaron, however, said the family believes they were deliberately attacked. The LeBaron community are descendants of Mormons who fled the United States in the late 1800s after being persecuted for their traditions, including polygamy. Many are dual US-Mexican citizens. One former member is George Romney, father of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was born in 1907 in Colonia Dublan in Chihuahua state, according to the US network NBC. Mitt Romney said on Twitter he was "heartbroken for the victims of the horrific attacks." It is not the first time the LeBaron family has been targeted. Julian LeBaron's brother Benjamin, founder of a crime-fighting group called SOS Chihuahua, was assassinated in 2009 after he led protests over the kidnapping of their 16-year-old brother. The murder came after the Mormons refused to pay the ransom. The young LeBaron was eventually released. The region around the 3,145-kilometer US-Mexican border is plagued by violent crime. Trump, who is battling to build the border wall that was his signature campaign pledge, regularly tells Mexico to do more to fight drug trafficking and illegal migration across the frontier. Lopez Obrador typically responds that the United States needs to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking, which generates an estimated $127 million in profits a year for the American gun industry. Mexico has registered more than 250,000 murders since the government controversially deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006. Many experts blame the "drug wars" for spiraling violence, as fragmented cartels battle each other and the army. Lopez Obrador has struggled to rein in the violence since taking office in December 2018. This year appears on track to set a new murder record in Mexico, with 25,890 so far.

Trump calls for 'war' on cartels as Mormons murdered in Mexico

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-rise-and-fall-of-el-chapo-236998">"El Chapo" Guzman</a> in an operation that triggered intense fighting.

Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover.

Security Minister Alfonso Durazo confirmed the arrest of a man identifying himself as Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons who assumed partial control of the notorious cartel run by their father until he was extradited to the United States in 2017.

Images carried on Mexican television showed army and police personnel under assault by men armed with heavy weapons.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his security cabinet was holding a meeting and would soon give further details on the situation.

Sources in the Sinaloa state government speaking on condition of anonymity said police officers had been wounded.

They also said an unknown number of inmates had escaped from the Aguaruto prison in Culiacan amid the chaos.

The state government said it was "working to restore calm and order in the face of the high-impact incidents that have occurred in recent hours in various points around Culiacan."

It called on residents to "remain calm, stay off the streets and be very attentive to official advisories on the evolving situation."

The battle broke out in the afternoon near the state prosecutor's office, when masked gunmen blocked traffic and opened fire, causing panicked drivers to abandon their cars in the middle of the street.

The fighting then spread to several other parts of the city.

Gunmen blocked roads and highways around the city into the evening, bringing the capital to a standstill.

"El Chapo," 62, was sentenced to life in prison in July for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States over the course of a quarter-century.

However, his Sinaloa cartel remains one of the most powerful in Mexico.

Guzman's extradition unleashed an initial period of instability in the group, as Ovidio and his brother Alfredo waged war with cartel co-founder, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, for control, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

But the situation has since stabilized into a reluctant truce.

Guzman, whose nickname means "Shorty," was rearrested in 2016 after a brazen prison escape, the second of his career.

He is considered the most powerful drug lord since Colombia's Pablo Escobar, who was killed in a police shootout in 1993.

After being convicted in a New York court, he is now serving his sentence in the notorious ADX federal maximum security prison in Colorado, nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies."

Ovidio and Alfredo have tried to fill their father's shoes, but anti-narcotics experts portray them as flashy party boys who have little ability to run the business side of the cartel.

Known as "Los Chapitos," or The Little Chapos, the pair were attacked in 2016 in a restaurant in the beach town of Puerto Vallarta.

They survived the attack, which the authorities called an attempted hit by rivals.

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in an operation that triggered intense fighting. Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover.

Mexican security forces on Thursday arrested one son of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman in an operation that triggered intense fighting. Heavy gunfire rocked Culiacan, a city of 750,000 people, in sustained clashes that left blazing vehicles strewn across the street and sent terrified residents running for cover. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo confirmed the arrest of a man identifying himself as Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons who assumed partial control of the notorious cartel run by their father until he was extradited to the United States in 2017. Images carried on Mexican television showed army and police personnel under assault by men armed with heavy weapons. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his security cabinet was holding a meeting and would soon give further details on the situation. Sources in the Sinaloa state government speaking on condition of anonymity said police officers had been wounded. They also said an unknown number of inmates had escaped from the Aguaruto prison in Culiacan amid the chaos. The state government said it was "working to restore calm and order in the face of the high-impact incidents that have occurred in recent hours in various points around Culiacan." It called on residents to "remain calm, stay off the streets and be very attentive to official advisories on the evolving situation." The battle broke out in the afternoon near the state prosecutor's office, when masked gunmen blocked traffic and opened fire, causing panicked drivers to abandon their cars in the middle of the street. The fighting then spread to several other parts of the city. Gunmen blocked roads and highways around the city into the evening, bringing the capital to a standstill. "El Chapo," 62, was sentenced to life in prison in July for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States over the course of a quarter-century. However, his Sinaloa cartel remains one of the most powerful in Mexico. Guzman's extradition unleashed an initial period of instability in the group, as Ovidio and his brother Alfredo waged war with cartel co-founder, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, for control, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. But the situation has since stabilized into a reluctant truce. Guzman, whose nickname means "Shorty," was rearrested in 2016 after a brazen prison escape, the second of his career. He is considered the most powerful drug lord since Colombia's Pablo Escobar, who was killed in a police shootout in 1993. After being convicted in a New York court, he is now serving his sentence in the notorious ADX federal maximum security prison in Colorado, nicknamed the "Alcatraz of the Rockies." Ovidio and Alfredo have tried to fill their father's shoes, but anti-narcotics experts portray them as flashy party boys who have little ability to run the business side of the cartel. Known as "Los Chapitos," or The Little Chapos, the pair were attacked in 2016 in a restaurant in the beach town of Puerto Vallarta. They survived the attack, which the authorities called an attempted hit by rivals.

Fierce gun battles as El Chapo's son arrested in Mexico