Four US citizens kidnapped by gunmen in Mexico

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Police at the scene in the Mexican border town of Matamoros

Photo: STRINGER / REUTERS

Four US citizens were shot at by gunmen and then kidnapped in north-eastern Mexico.

According to the FBI, "unidentified gunmen shot at the passengers of a minibus" after it crossed the US border into Matamoros, in the state of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.

The four US citizens were "put into another vehicle and taken away by the gunmen," according to the FBI.

A Mexican was also killed in the incident in the border town of Matamoros, according to US Ambassador Ken Salazar.

According to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Americans crossed the border on Friday to buy medicines in Mexico.

They were kidnapped.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information.

Matamoros is located in the violent state of Tamaulipas directly across from the Texas city of Brownsville on the Rio Grande River border.

According to the authorities, several people were killed there on Friday in armed clashes between rival gangs that lasted several hours.

However, more detailed information on the dead and injured was not available.

Medicines are significantly cheaper in Mexico

"This type of attack is unacceptable," said Washington White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

US law enforcement officials are in contact with their Mexican counterparts.

"We will continue to coordinate with Mexico and urge those responsible to be held accountable."

Many US citizens who live on either the northern border with Canada or the southern border with Mexico drive across the border to buy cheaper drugs there.

In the US, prescription drugs are many times more expensive than in other countries.

Mexico has been suffering from a wave of violence for years.

Last year, 31,936 homicides were registered in the Latin American country with 126 million inhabitants.

Numerous drug cartels and other criminal groups fight for control of areas of influence and smuggling routes.

They often have ties to corrupt politicians and security forces.

Most homicides are never solved.

jso/dpa/AFP