Mexico At least five police officers were killed and two injured after being ambushed by criminal gangs in the state of Oaxaca.

The police team was attacked on the afternoon of November 8 while patrolling at La Cementera de San Vicente Coatlan, a small community of about 4,000 residents located about 80 km from the state capital of Oaxaca. Two injured people were taken to the hospital, local authorities said.

"I condemn the attack on members of the San Vicente Coatlan town police team and offer condolences to the families of the victims. I have asked the prosecutor to investigate the case thoroughly," the state governor said. Oaxaca Alejandro Murat wrote on Twitter.

The violence in Oaxaca is mainly related to organized criminal gangs and has been increasing in recent years. San Mayor San Jose Estancia Grande and an official were killed in an armed attack in August 2017. Alejandro Aparicio Santiago, mayor of Tlaxiaco, was also shot dead shortly after taking office in January.

The Mexican military has been mobilized against drug trafficking since 2006. However, experts say the fight against the drug has also caused a violent spiral between gangs and the army, resulting in more than 250,000 cases. killing.

The number of murders in Mexico in the first half of this year rose to a record of 14,603, surpassing 13,985 in the same period last year. The total number of murders recorded this year is also likely to be higher than 2018.