Five people were shot dead in central Mexico City, the local security secretariat said Saturday, a rare attack in the capital and likely linked to organized crime, according to local media.

The attack occurred late Friday at the town hall in Miguel Hidalgo, one of the most prosperous districts of Mexico City.

Police responding to an alert found "five people on the ground with gunshot wounds," according to a statement.

Medical services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died due to the seriousness of their injuries, the security secretariat said.

Local media reports said one of the victims was a member of the local Union Tepito cartel but city authorities have not confirmed this.&nbsp;

Despite growing drug cartel violence in Mexico over the last decade, shootings and multiple killings are rare in the capital compared to other areas of the country.

However, the city was shocked by an attack in June last year on its security chief, Omar Garcia Harfuch, by heavily armed gunmen who killed two of his bodyguards and a passerby. Garcia Harfuch, who was wounded, blamed the attack on the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel.

More than 300,000 people have been murdered since Mexico deployed the military to fight the drug cartels in 2006, with most of the killings blamed on organized crime.

Five people were shot dead in central Mexico City, the local security secretariat said Saturday, a rare attack in the capital and likely linked to organized crime, according to local media.

Five people were shot dead in central Mexico City, the local security secretariat said Saturday, a rare attack in the capital and likely linked to organized crime, according to local media. The attack occurred late Friday at the town hall in Miguel Hidalgo, one of the most prosperous districts of Mexico City. Police responding to an alert found "five people on the ground with gunshot wounds," according to a statement. Medical services certified three men dead at the scene while the other two were transferred to a nearby hospital where they later died due to the seriousness of their injuries, the security secretariat said. Local media reports said one of the victims was a member of the local Union Tepito cartel but city authorities have not confirmed this. Despite growing drug cartel violence in Mexico over the last decade, shootings and multiple killings are rare in the capital compared to other areas of the country. However, the city was shocked by an attack in June last year on its security chief, Omar Garcia Harfuch, by heavily armed gunmen who killed two of his bodyguards and a passerby. Garcia Harfuch, who was wounded, blamed the attack on the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel. More than 300,000 people have been murdered since Mexico deployed the military to fight the drug cartels in 2006, with most of the killings blamed on organized crime.

Five shot dead in rare Mexico City attack

At least 24 people were killed and seven injured as gunmen attacked a drug rehabilitation centre in central Mexico, local officials said.&nbsp;

As per preliminary information, the attackers "entered the scene, forced (the victims) on to the ground and shot them," Pedro Cortes, secretary of public security in the town of Irapuato, said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gang-war-14-bodies-found-by-roadside-in-mexico-308920">Gang war: 14 bodies found by roadside in Mexico</a>

He also said early reports suggest the gunmen came in a red vehicle and the officials are working on finding the vehicle.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-city-police-chief-shot-and-injured-in-assassination-attempt-308868">Mexico City police chief shot and injured in assassination attempt</a>

Irapuato comes in the state of Guanajuato, where organising crimes and violence are rampant.&nbsp;

The state's flourishing energy sector has also attracted drug cartels such as Jalisco New Generation and Santa Rosa de Lima, who are often involved in extortion, kidnapping, and fuel theft.

Mexican authorities on June 21 arrested 26 alleged members of Santa Rosa de Lima after burning vehicles were used to block the cities of Celaya, Salamanca and Villagran.

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

At least 24 people were killed and seven injured as gunmen attacked a drug rehabilitation centre in central Mexico, local officials said. As per preliminary information, the attackers "entered the scene, forced (the victims) on to the ground and shot them," Pedro Cortes, secretary of public security in the town of Irapuato, said.

At least 24 people were killed and seven injured as gunmen attacked a drug rehabilitation centre in central Mexico, local officials said. As per preliminary information, the attackers "entered the scene, forced (the victims) on to the ground and shot them," Pedro Cortes, secretary of public security in the town of Irapuato, said. Also read | Gang war: 14 bodies found by roadside in Mexico He also said early reports suggest the gunmen came in a red vehicle and the officials are working on finding the vehicle. Also read | Mexico City police chief shot and injured in assassination attempt Irapuato comes in the state of Guanajuato, where organising crimes and violence are rampant. The state's flourishing energy sector has also attracted drug cartels such as Jalisco New Generation and Santa Rosa de Lima, who are often involved in extortion, kidnapping, and fuel theft. Mexican authorities on June 21 arrested 26 alleged members of Santa Rosa de Lima after burning vehicles were used to block the cities of Celaya, Salamanca and Villagran. (With inputs from AFP)

At least 24 killed as gunmen attack in central Mexico

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Five shot dead in rare Mexico City attack

At least 24 killed as gunmen attack in central Mexico

9 US Citizens Were Killed in an Ambush in Mexico