Mexico commission finds police executed 22 in Michoacan

Federal police killed 42 people in the shootout which lasted around three hours last year

42 suspected drug cartel members, as well as one police officer, died in the clash
42 suspected drug cartel members, as well as one police officer, died in the clash

Mexico's National Human Rights Commission said 22 people were executed by federal police during a confrontation on a ranch in the western state of Michoacan last year.

The commission had investigated the clash, which took place at a ranch in the town of Tanhuato in May 2015. It established that 40 people were shot, one died in a fire and another was run over. It also found that at least two people had been tortured by police and some bodies were moved to different locations and had had firearms placed in their hands.

A total of 42 suspected members of a drug cartel died in the clash, as well as one police officer.

The US government had said there had been no human rights violations.