Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police have cordoned off the area around the house where the killings took place

Masked men burst into a children's birthday party in the Mexican city of Tizayuca in central Hidalgo state, killing 11.

Police said they had found three children alive at the scene but all 11 adults at the party had been shot dead.

It had taken place in a tent set up by the host outside their home in a residential area of the city.

Mexico has recently seen a surge in violence linked to disputes between drug cartels.

In May alone, 2,186 killings were recorded - approximately 70 a day.

A recent trend has seen hit men murdering whole families, including children.</s>Attackers wielding knives burst into a child's birthday party in central Mexico, stabbing and slashing 11 people to death, including two minors.

Hidalgo state prosecutor Javier Ramiro Lara Salinas said at a news conference Thursday that the preliminary investigation suggested the attack in a house near Tizayuca, just north of Mexico City, was a 'settling of scores'.

Among the victims was a man whose ID identified him as a Mexico City police officer.

Lara said the home's owner had served time on a kidnapping charge in Mexico State and he indicated the homeowner was involved in organized crime.

Authorities received a 911 call after midnight Thursday alerting them to the killings.

Officers discovered 11 bodies - seven of them female and four male. Two of the deceased were minors, state authorities said.

They had initially said the victims were seven men and four women. Four minors survived the attack without injuries.

One child told officers that masked men in police uniforms had burst into the tent where the party was happening and killed all the adults.

None of the victims was shot. All were killed by knives or other cutting weapons.

The area had largely been spared the violence affecting other parts of Mexico.</s>Masked gunmen burst into a children's party in central Mexico and killed 11 people, authorities and witnesses said Thursday, in the violence-plagued country's latest mass murder.

Police found the gory scene when they responded to an emergency call received just after midnight in the city of Tizayuca, in the central state of Hidalgo, the state security service said in a statement.

Neighbours said four gunmen burst into a large white tent where a family was hosting a children's party outside their home and shot dead seven men and four women.

One of the children told authorities that masked men wearing police uniforms had arrived during the party and killed all the adults, according to newspaper Excelsior.

Authorities had cordoned off the entire neighbourhood Thursday morning, and security was tight. Forensic workers could be seen examining the crime scene.

Mexico has seen a surge of deadly violence in recent months, extending to areas that were once considered relatively calm. That includes Hidalgo, which sits just north of the capital, Mexico City.

Murders hit a record high in May, according to the latest official data: 2,186 homicides, an average of 70 a day and the most since the country began keeping track 20 years ago.

The violence is fueled by powerful, ultra-violent drug cartels.

Since Mexico deployed the military to fight drug trafficking in 2006, a wave of bloodshed has left more than 200,000 people dead or missing, as rival cartels wage war on each other and the army.

Recently, hitmen have been wiping out entire families -- including children -- in a sign that the unspoken code of honour that once governed the turf wars and revenge killings of Mexico's cartels is fraying.</s>Attackers wielding knives burst into a child's birthday party in central Mexico, stabbing and slashing to death 11 people, including two minors, authorities said Thursday.

Hidalgo state prosecutor Javier Ramiro Lara Salinas said at a news conference that the preliminary investigation suggested the attack in a house near Tizayuca, just north of Mexico City, was a "settling of scores."

Among the victims was a man with an ID identifying him as a Mexico City police officer. Lara said the home's owner had served time on a kidnapping charge in Mexico State.

Authorities received a 911 call after midnight Thursday alerting them to the killings.

Officers discovered 11 bodies — seven of them female and four male, with two minors, state authorities said. They had initially said the victims were seven men and four women. Four minors survived the attack without injuries.

None of the victims was. All were killed by knives or other cutting weapons.

The area had largely been spared the violence affecting other parts of Mexico.</s>Masked men burst into a children's party and hack to death seven men, four women and two minors in Hidalgo state.

Masked men burst into a children's party in central Mexico and hacked 11 people to death, authorities and witnesses said Thursday, in the violence-plagued country's latest mass murder.

Police found the gory scene when they responded to an emergency call received just after midnight in the city of Tizayuca, in the central state of Hidalgo, officials said.

Neighbours said four men burst into a large white tent where a family was hosting a children's party outside their home.

They stabbed to death seven women, two men and two minors, said state prosecutor Javier Lara.

The murders appear to be a settling of scores, he told a news conference, indicating that the homeowner was involved in organised crime.

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"He had a criminal record for various crimes, including kidnapping, for which he did time in prison," Lara said.

"We can presume this was a settling of scores. Evidence indicates a hit squad was sent to the home to kill (the victims)."

Another victim was an employee of the Mexico City public security service, he said.

One of the children told authorities that masked men wearing police uniforms had arrived during the party and killed all the adults, according to newspaper Excelsior.

Authorities had cordoned off the entire neighbourhood on Thursday morning, and security was tight. Forensic workers could be seen examining the crime scene.

Mexico has seen a surge of deadly violence in recent months, extending to areas that were once considered relatively calm. That includes Hidalgo, which sits just north of the capital, Mexico City.

Murders hit a record high in May, according to the latest official data: 2,186 homicides, an average of 70 a day and the most since the country began keeping track 20 years ago.

The violence is largely fuelled by powerful, ultra-violent drug cartels.

Since Mexico deployed the military to fight drug trafficking in 2006, a wave of bloodshed has left more than 200,000 people dead or missing, as rival cartels wage war on each other and the army.

Recently, hitmen have been wiping out entire families - including children - in a sign that the unspoken code of honour that once governed the turf wars and revenge killings of Mexico's cartels is fraying.</s>MEXICO CITY: Eleven people were found dead in a home in the city of Tizayuca in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo, state authorities said in a statement on Thursday.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths were unclear and authorities said they were investigating. The people had been murdered, and they were from the state of Mexico, according to a source at the state attorney general's office who was not authorized to speak to the media.

More than 100,000 people have died in drug-related violence since 2007, when former President Felipe Calderon sent in the military to battle the cartels, and at least 30,000 people are missing.</s>Authorities in central Mexico say gunmen burst into a party and opened fire, killing seven men and four women.

The Public Safety Department in the state of Hidalgo says in a statement that the killings occurred early Thursday in a house near Tizayuca, just north of Mexico City.

The motive in the killing remains under investigation. The area had largely been spared the violence affecting other parts of Mexico.</s>Three men were forced to run for safety after a masked gang tried to launch a “targeted attack” on them.

The victims were approached by the gang of six thugs in a car park on Healey Lane, Batley, on Tuesday evening between 6.30 and 7pm.

The masked men tried to attack the victims who fled into a nearby convenience store and blocked the door. The suspects tried to get in and damaged the door in the process before they left the scene.

No one was injured in the incident.

DC Nicole Rubio-Senior who is investigating the incident, said: “We are investigating this incident and would like to speak to anyone who saw this group of six masked men attack three males in the car park, or who saw the group causing damage to the front of the shop.

“It is believed the attack on the men was a targeted offence and it must be stressed that such behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated in our communities.”

Anyone who has information is asked to contact Kirklees CID on 101 referencing crime number 13170315482.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.</s>Six masked men tried to attack three others in a car park in West Yorkshire who barricaded themselves in a nearby shop for safety.

The group approached three other men stood in a car park off Healey Lane and attempted to attack them between 6.30pm and 7pm last night (Wednesday).

The men fled into a nearby shop and blocked the door as the suspects attempted to get in. They caused damage to the door then left the area. No-one was injured.

DC Nicole Rubio- Senior said: "It is believed the attack on the men was a targeted offence and it must be stressed that such behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated in our communities.”

West Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses to the disorder or anyone that has information about it to get in touch with Kirklees CID on 101 referencing crime number 13170315482.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Masked men attack a child's birthday party in Tizayuca, Hidalgo, killing 11 adults.