Confirmation comes following the disappearance of 43 college students in September that sparked widespread protests

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

At least one of 43 college students missing since September has been identified among charred remains found near a garbage dump, an anonymous Mexican official has confirmed.

The official said he could provide more details on how many of the students might have been identified.

A family member of one of the students, Alexander Mora, confirmed that the remains identified were Mora’s. The relative said the family received the information late on Friday from an Argentinian team of forensic experts working on behalf of the families and with the attorney general’s office.

The students went missing on 26 September after confrontations with police that killed three students and three bystanders in the southern city of Iguala. The attorney general has said they were attacked by police on orders of Iguala’s mayor.

Prosecutors say the students were later turned over to a drug gang, which killed them. Detainees have told officials that they burned the 43 bodies at a dump site and scattered their ashes in a river.

The case has fed anger across Mexico as a clear case of violence and corruption on the part of the state and dozens of protests have been held demanding for justice for the students and changes for all of the country.

Another demonstration was being held on Saturday, where parents of missing students were expected to speak about the identification.