Gunmen in Mexico have killed nine people mourning the death of a man who died in jail last week, officials say.
The nine were killed in two attacks in the northern city of Ciudad Juárez.
Assailants first burst into a private home where friends and family had gathered for the wake of the inmate and shot dead two women and a man.
Hours later, the premises where the funeral service for the same man was being held, were targeted by attackers who killed six more people.
Witnesses said the gunmen stormed into the home, which doubles up as an evangelical church, as a pastor was holding the funeral service. They described scenes of panic as the gunmen opened fire.
Among those killed were a 12-year-old boy and his father.
Investigators told local media there were strong indications that the same criminal group was behind both attacks.
Officials have not released the name of the inmate whose funeral was attacked – but the prosecutor’s office said he had been killed on Wednesday while imprisoned in a jail in the city of Chihuahua.
His body had been returned for burial to Ciudad Juárez.
Ciudad Juárez, on Mexico’s border with the US, is one of the Mexican cities with the highest murder rate nationwide.
In 2021, an average of four people was murdered every day in the city, according to data from the regional prosecutor’s office.
Most of the murders are linked to rivalries between local drugs gangs, the region’s attorney general says.
Latest Stories
-
Police on manhunt for Kenyan MP who shot dead rival aide at voting day
32 mins -
South Africa sex crime: ‘We want our bodies to be secure 24/7’
44 mins -
Ada Traditional Council justifies decision to prevent Radio Ada from covering Asafotufiam festival
49 mins -
Ghana Card will save SSNIT $126 million – SSNIT boss
1 hour -
Policeman, KNUST student who allegedly gang-raped girl denied bail again
2 hours -
Abandoned market project forces Mamponteng traders to ply ware under high-tension lines
2 hours -
2 suspected robbers arrested at Kakiase in Savannah Region
2 hours -
Frederick Ansah Botchway accuses Hearts of unfairness in emotional farewell
2 hours -
Abyna-Ansaa Adjei: Let’s stick to historical facts
2 hours -
Elon Musk sells $6.9bn of Tesla shares as Twitter lawsuit looms
3 hours -
7 ways to rekindle the chemistry in your relationship
3 hours -
Ukraine conflict: Ban Russian visitors, Zelensky urges West
3 hours -
Single father caters for son with cerebral palsy after mother abandoned them
3 hours -
Can Ghana make history as U-20 Women’s World Cup kicks off today?
3 hours -
Ukraine war must end with liberation of Crimea – Zelensky
3 hours