Mexico mayor assassinated in town hall massacre

The mayor of a small town in western Mexico has been shot to death.

Police say there was an attack on the town hall. It has bullet holes in it.

The PRD party condemned the assassination of the mayor.

The Los Tequileros criminal gang is blamed for the attack.

Police officers and council workers were killed in the massacre, with graphic images of bloodied bodies on social media.

Before the attack moved to the town hall, Mr. Almeda's father was killed in his house.

Security forces were prevented from entering the city by large vehicles blocking the highway.

Will Grant is the Mexico correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

There is a violent part of western Mexico known as the "Tierra Caliente".

Our correspondent says that various groups are fighting for control of the lucrative drug routes. The region is a hot spot for opium and heroin production.

As well as the 18 people who were killed, three other people were wounded, according to a report seen by local media.

Killings of local officials are not uncommon and it is not yet clear what the motive may have been.

More than 30 mayors, former mayors and mayoral candidates were killed in the last year. The number has dwindled to single figures in recent years but those who hold local office remain at risk from armed gangs.

The defence ministry said it was sending army and navy units to look for the attackers.

The governor said she regretted the deaths.

The alleged members of Los Tequileros released a video on social networks announcing that they were coming back to the region where they had been fighting a rival drug gang.

Raybel Jacobo de Almonte, the leader of the criminal group, was assassinated in December of last year.

His gang took their name from him.

Additional reports by Tiffany.