 "Authorities have launched an operation, yet no arrests have been made. (AI Image)")
Gunmen opened fire in a bar in central Mexico on Saturday, killing seven people and severely wounding five others, police reported. Four victims were found dead at the scene, while three more died in medical care following the attack in Tula, around 60 miles (97 kilometres) north of Mexico City.
Witnesses told police that armed men stormed the La Resaka bar, located in a working-class neighbourhood of the city, early on Saturday. Federal and state security forces launched an operation but have yet to apprehend any suspects.
Gang tensions in Hidalgo state
Gangs involved in the trafficking of stolen fuel are known to operate in Hidalgo state, where Tula is located, though mass killings are uncommon. The Hidalgo State Security Bureau reported detecting disputes between rival gangs in Tula prior to the attack. Local media said tensions escalated following the arrest of an alleged local gang leader.
Criminal violence, largely linked to drug trafficking, has claimed around 480,000 lives in Mexico since the beginning of a cartel crackdown in 2006, with more than 120,000 people still missing.