23 killed, 13 injured in Mexico bar attack

ANKARA

An attack on a bar in the southern Mexico state of Veracruz on late Tuesday left 23 people dead and 13 others injured, according to media reports.

The attack caused fire in El Caballo Blanco bar and the victims included eight women, Spanish daily El Periodico reported, citing the office of the state’s attorney general.

Although the office said that preliminary investigations were continuing to ascertain reasons behind the attack, local media reported that the attack occurred after alleged entry of several attackers with Molotov cocktails into the bar.

Governor of Veracruz Cuitlahuac Garcia suggested that a criminal gang would be involved in the attack.

"In Veracruz, criminal gangs are no longer tolerated," Garcia said in a Twitter post, adding that police and armed forces continued search for attackers.