At least sixteen people were killed in a series of shootings on Thursday in the Mexican coastal state of Veracruz, where drug-related violence flared up earlier this year.

At least 11 victims were killed by an armed gang in the towns of El Higo and Tampico.

The five armed men were then chased down by security forces and shot dead.

Police have not yet commented on a potential motive for the killings, but the state has been rocked by violence for several months, apparently stemming from a dispute between two rival drug gangs.

These latest shootings come one day after the state government disbanded the municipal police force in Veracruz and sent in the Marines as part of a drive to root out corruption.