At least a dozen Mexican police killed, photos appear to show brutal execution-style slayings

At least a dozen police officers were slain in a village in southern Mexico near the Pacific Coast, and graphic photos from the scene appear to show some of the deceased officers lying face down and their hands tied up.

On Monday, a group of at least 30 armed men in Coyuca de Benítez ambushed Alfredo Alonso Lopez, who was the area's security secretary, along with his bodyguards, according to local Bloomberg affiliate El Financiero.

The group requested backup and the ambush grew into a larger battle. Some law enforcement officials died at the site, while others were kidnapped. There are conflicting local reports regarding the number of officers who were killed on the scene versus the number who were kidnapped and later killed.

The bodies of the kidnapped officers were later found with signs of torture, and they were shot with their hands tied.

Photos published by Mexico City newspaper El Universal appear to show the graphic execution-style slayings.

The area where slayings occurred is known to be dangerous for law enforcement due to drug cartel violence, according to The New York Times. 

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