8 gunmen killed in shootout with police in northern Mexico

MEXICO CITY – Authorities in northern Mexico say police have killed eight gunmen who opened fire on a police patrol.

The Tamaulipas state government says the gunmen were travelling in two pickup trucks when they came in contact with federal police. The gunmen opened fire on the police, who returned fire, killing all eight.

Police say they found six rifles, a pistol and a grenade launcher in the attackers’ vehicles.

The government says the attack occurred Monday in the township of San Fernando, near the Gulf coast.

The government hasn’t identified the attackers, but the area has long been dominated by the Zetas drug cartel.

San Fernando was the scene of a 2010 massacre of 72 migrants by a drug cartel.