Fotos of the incidents via Borderlandbeat.com can be found here.
A total of 14 individuals, including two Policia Federal units were killed Tuesday in armed confrontations in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, according to Mexican official news accounts.
A news release published by the state government of Tamaulipas on the state website said that three separate encounters were recorded in the city.
The gunfights began at 1200 hrs in Beaty colony when an armed group attacked a Policia Federal road patrol. Two unidentified Policia Federal agents died in the encounter, one at the scene and the other later while receiving medical attention.
An attempt by a Mexican Army unit to respond to the gunfight was attacked by armed suspects traveling aboard a Ford Lobo (F-150) pickup truck, presumably near the area of the first encounter. Army return fire killed all four unidentified attackers.
Two others were found dead aboard two separate vehicles, hit by stray gunfire from the firefight. Both victims were in their 20s.
Later on, a Mexican Army patrol encountered armed suspects traveling aboard a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in Aquiles Serdan colony, killing all six by return gunfire.
Criminal gangs inside the city blocked roads to slow security forces response to the fighting. Blocks were reported on the Reynosa-Matamoros highway, on Bulevar Morelos in Ampliacion Rodriguez colony, Libramiento Monterrey in JosĂŠLopez Portillo colony, on Libramiento Monterrey in Las Cumbres colony, on Bulevar Morelos in Petrolera coolony and on Bulevar Hidalgo in Longoria colony.
The Mexican Army also claimed a total of 10 rifles, accessories, ammunition, weapons magazines and two vehicles were seized following the gunfights.
Fighting in Reynosa has exploded because a top drug gang leader, identified only as El Mondo was executed Monday by Gulf Cartel shooters. Cartel related messages on narcoboards indicate that the drug gangs inside the city were vowing revenge for the killing.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com