16 die in killing spree in N. Mexico

At least 16 people, including five suspected attackers, were killed Thursday in Mexico's northern coastal state of Veracruz, in a series of violent incidents, authorities said. The state's general attorney said the incident occurred in the morning on Veracruz's border with northeastern Tamaulipas state. An armed group of five staged two attacks before all were killed in a shootout with Mexican armed forces. Veracruz state government spokeswoman Gina Dominguez said the first attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the group attacked three buses on the Tempoal-Panuco, killing seven passengers. The same group later killed four people in the municipality of El Higo. A few hours later, the suspects were killed in a clash with the Mexican army. Authorities seized an armored van, 5 rifles, 54 magazines of ammunition and eight mobile phones, according to official reports. In October, the Mexican government launched operation "Veracruz Insurance", deploying federal forces and strengthening intelligence work to ensure security in the area, which has been shaken by a wave of violence. The move came after 32 bodies were found in three homes, and another 35 bodies were dumped on a busy avenue in the tourist area of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. More than 45,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched a war against organized crime in 2006.