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On Monday authorities revealed that over a dozen police officers were shot dead in an ambush in Michoacán, in one of the bloodiest attacks against security forces since President López Obrador took office in December.

On Twitter, the Public Security Ministry said it would use all means at its disposal to catch those responsible for the attack in the municipality of Aguililla in Michoacán, a state that has been besieged by drug cartels and violence for years.

La #SSPC condena el ataque en el que murieron 14 agentes policiacos en Aguililla, Michoacán. Nos encontramos en comunicación y ponemos a disposición del gobierno del estado todos nuestros recursos humanos y tecnológicos para dar con los agresores y llevarlos ante la justicia. — Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (@SSPCMexico) October 14, 2019

The Federal Public Security Ministry said 14 police were killed, although Michoacán authorities said 13 officers died and three were injured.

On Twitter, the Michoacán Security Ministry said the state police were working near El Aguaje when armed civilians opened fire against them.

Reforzamos las labores de prevención y vigilancia en el municipio de Aguililla, derivado de una agresión que sufrieran elementos de la Policía Michoacán, cuando daban cumplimento a un mandamiento civil. — SSP MICHOACÁN (@MICHOACANSSP) October 14, 2019

Authorities have yet to provide further details of the ambush, although photographs from the alleged crime scene were published on social media, showing shot-up and burning police vehicles, as well as the bodies of slain officers.

The images also showed messages attributed to the infamous Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which warned police not to support rival drug cartels, including the Knights Templar, a criminal organization that once dominated the state.

For years, Michoacán has been a stronghold of the CJNG, which in 2015 was blamed for a series of attacks on police in the state of Jalisco as it sought to consolidate its control over drug trafficking in the region.

The heavily armed CJNG has used intimidation and bribery to control local police since their salaries are no match for the gang’s financial muscle, which in large part has been built on trafficking crystal meth.

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