Six severed heads have been found on a road in central Mexico, in an area not normally associated with cartel violence.
Local authorities made the discovery on Tuesday on a route that links the broadly peaceful states of Puebla and Tlaxcala.
Police have not given a motive for the killings or said which of the criminal groups operating in Mexico might have carried them out.
Local media has reported that a blanket was left at the scene with a message issuing a warning to rival gangs and apparently signed by a group called “La Barredora”, meaning “the sweeper”.
The most recent report on homicide in Mexico recorded a national homicide rate of about 25 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to Human Rights Watch and INEGI data.
Slight improvements have been noted in recent years, including a 5% drop in homicides.
However, organized crime continues to fuel violence across the country. Violence remains especially severe in regions like Colima and Guanajuato, where homicide rates far exceed the national average.
