Mexico: ten suspected criminals killed in a clash with the security forces

Ten suspected criminals were shot on Tuesday (June 14th) in Mexico in an armed clash with security forces near the capital Mexico City, prosecutors said.

the security forces who responded

, said the prosecution on Twitter.

Three officers were slightly injured.

Seven suspected criminals were arrested, four of whom were injured during clashes with live ammunition in the town of Texcaltitlan.

The prosecution claims to have seized 20 AR-15 automatic rifle type weapons, cartridges, five vehicles, bulletproof vests, military uniforms and telecommunications equipment.

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Authorities did not say whether the suspected criminals belonged to one of the drug-trafficking cartels that control certain territories in Mexico.

," said the prosecution.

Surrounding the capital, the State of Mexico is the most populated of the 32 entities of the Mexican Federation with 17 million inhabitants.

In addition to drug trafficking, gangs of

according to the expression in force are dedicated to the theft of fuel, the trafficking of migrants who dream of going to the United States, kidnappings and racketeering.

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Experts and human rights defenders say the prolonged militarization of the fight against the mafias has exacerbated the violence.

Mexico has recorded more than 340,000 murders and tens of thousands missing since the December 2006 launch of a military offensive against organized crime.

Current leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is calling on security agencies to prioritize intelligence operations over force in fighting crime.