At least 23 killed in fire at Mexico bar
At least 23 people were killed in a fire at a bar in the Mexican state of Veracruz late Tuesday night.
Fifteen men and eight women were killed in the fire, which ripped through El Caballo Blanco (the White Horse) bar after being deliberately set by unknown assailants at around 10:30 p.m., officials said.
Another 13 people were injured in the fire in the gulf-coast city of Coatzacoalcos, authorities said.
Veracruz Gov. Cuitlahauc Garcia said in a tweet that gang activity might be involved. Garcia said police and Mexico's armed forces are still searching for the attackers.
Images shared on social media show collapsed metal scattered among soot-covered couches and debris. People were seen embracing outside the bar, behind police tape.
One especially graphic image showed dead bodies among the rubble.
The deadly incident came nearly eight years to the day after the Zetas drug cartel started a fire at a casino in the northern city of Monterrey, killing 52 people. The Zetas, now splintered, set the fire to exact protection payments.
Earlier this month, cartels were blamed for a gruesome attack in the western city of Uruapan, where 19 mutilated corpses were found on display.
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