foolsgold
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A group of vigilantes in Mexico has seized the small town of Nueva Italia after clashing with alleged members of the Knights Templar drug cartel.
More than 100 men entered the town in western Michoacan state on Sunday morning and disarmed local police.
There were exchanges of fire with alleged gang members before the vigilantes occupied the town.
The vigilante group was set up by residents who say the army and the police have failed to protect them.
The Knights Templar has been fighting the New Generation cartel, from neighbouring Jalisco state, for control of criminal activities in the area.
Vigilantes, also known as self-defence groups or community police, have been active in several Mexican states.
Michoacan vigilantes clash with drug cartel in Nueva Italia
In Michoacan they control several towns. A few days ago they launched an offensive, occupying the towns of Paracuaro and Antunez.
They say they are advancing towards Apatzingan, the alleged headquarters of the Knights Templar gang.
Federal troops were nowhere to be seen during the invasion of Nueva Italia, according to the AP news agency.
In Paracuaro, local reports say they were initially backed by the local population.
But later, residents rioted and set fire to many of the vigilantes' vehicles in a failed attempt to expel them.
The self-defence groups have been accused of siding with the New Generation cartel. They deny any involvement.
Correspondents say the clashes in Michoacan will be a major challenge for President Enrique Pena Nieto, who was elected a year ago promising to boost the economy and reduce violence levels.
More than 70,000 people have died in drug related violence in the past six years.
Knights Templar drug cartel
First emerged in 2011 as an off-shoot of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel
Takes its name from a Christian military order from the Middle Ages
Claims to protect Michoacan residents from kidnappings, extortion and robberies committed by rival gangs
Members say they abide by a code of honour which includes not drinking or taking drugs and not abusing family members
Often uses pseudo-religious language to justify acts of violence
Controls much of the methamphetamine and marijuana trade in western Mexico
Cartel members have been accused of murders, kidnappings and extortion
Operates mainly in western Michoacan state
At war with Zetas cartel and Jalisco Nueva Generacion drugs gang
Mexico's government has pledged to take control of a violent western state after days of fighting between masked vigilantes and members of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels. The state of Michoacan has been rocked by repeated explosions of civil unrest and vigilante groups have sprung up in the region which complain that state and federal police are not protecting them from the gangs.
A member of the community police poses for a picture after breaking into the village of Paracuaro, and taking over control, in Michoacan state. Some 100 gunmen of the community police from different towns and riding in a convoy of trucks entered Paracuaro and disarmed the police to gain control over the town in an effort to rid the area of the Knights Templar cartel (Caballeros Templarios), according to local media.
Vigilantes ride on the back of a pick-up truck while driving in a convoy to the town of Poturo.The vigilantes who have been tolerated by the government are pushing into the stronghold of one of Mexico's most feared drug cartels, raising the risk of an unprecedented urban battle in the country's drug war. Hundreds of men, many armed with high-powered rifles, barrelled into the town of Nueva Italia in a convoy of pickup trucks, claiming they want to liberate it from the Knights Templar cartel that controls much of the western state of Michoacan
A truck blocks a highway near the village of Paracuaro after a clash between members of the community police and the Knights Templar cartel (Caballeros Templarios) near the village of Paracuaro in Michoacan state.
A looter carries boxes of beer as a Corona truck burns in a road block allegedly set up by followers of the Knights Templar cartel in Tierra Caliente. Since late last year, vigilante groups in the state of Michoacan have moved deeper into territory controlled by the Knights Templar cartel and they now are converging on Apatzingan, considered one of the gang's main strongholds.
Community police groups are cropping up all over Mexico. Here, members of the Public Safety System, or the community police of Guerrero state, march to commemorate the first anniversary of their foundation in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state.
http://img1.catalog.photos.msn.com/...-14f4-416b-bf58-7d60caf2cbd7&w=628&h=498&so=2
Jose Manuel Mireles (C), head of Michoacan state's community police, stands with vigilantes in Churumuco in Michoacan state.
Vigilantes take a rest at the town hall after entering the town of Nueva Italia.
More than 100 men entered the town in western Michoacan state on Sunday morning and disarmed local police.
There were exchanges of fire with alleged gang members before the vigilantes occupied the town.
The vigilante group was set up by residents who say the army and the police have failed to protect them.
The Knights Templar has been fighting the New Generation cartel, from neighbouring Jalisco state, for control of criminal activities in the area.
Vigilantes, also known as self-defence groups or community police, have been active in several Mexican states.
Michoacan vigilantes clash with drug cartel in Nueva Italia
In Michoacan they control several towns. A few days ago they launched an offensive, occupying the towns of Paracuaro and Antunez.
They say they are advancing towards Apatzingan, the alleged headquarters of the Knights Templar gang.
Federal troops were nowhere to be seen during the invasion of Nueva Italia, according to the AP news agency.
In Paracuaro, local reports say they were initially backed by the local population.
But later, residents rioted and set fire to many of the vigilantes' vehicles in a failed attempt to expel them.
The self-defence groups have been accused of siding with the New Generation cartel. They deny any involvement.
Correspondents say the clashes in Michoacan will be a major challenge for President Enrique Pena Nieto, who was elected a year ago promising to boost the economy and reduce violence levels.
More than 70,000 people have died in drug related violence in the past six years.
Knights Templar drug cartel
First emerged in 2011 as an off-shoot of La Familia Michoacana drug cartel
Takes its name from a Christian military order from the Middle Ages
Claims to protect Michoacan residents from kidnappings, extortion and robberies committed by rival gangs
Members say they abide by a code of honour which includes not drinking or taking drugs and not abusing family members
Often uses pseudo-religious language to justify acts of violence
Controls much of the methamphetamine and marijuana trade in western Mexico
Cartel members have been accused of murders, kidnappings and extortion
Operates mainly in western Michoacan state
At war with Zetas cartel and Jalisco Nueva Generacion drugs gang
Mexico's government has pledged to take control of a violent western state after days of fighting between masked vigilantes and members of one of the country's most powerful drug cartels. The state of Michoacan has been rocked by repeated explosions of civil unrest and vigilante groups have sprung up in the region which complain that state and federal police are not protecting them from the gangs.
A member of the community police poses for a picture after breaking into the village of Paracuaro, and taking over control, in Michoacan state. Some 100 gunmen of the community police from different towns and riding in a convoy of trucks entered Paracuaro and disarmed the police to gain control over the town in an effort to rid the area of the Knights Templar cartel (Caballeros Templarios), according to local media.
Vigilantes ride on the back of a pick-up truck while driving in a convoy to the town of Poturo.The vigilantes who have been tolerated by the government are pushing into the stronghold of one of Mexico's most feared drug cartels, raising the risk of an unprecedented urban battle in the country's drug war. Hundreds of men, many armed with high-powered rifles, barrelled into the town of Nueva Italia in a convoy of pickup trucks, claiming they want to liberate it from the Knights Templar cartel that controls much of the western state of Michoacan
A truck blocks a highway near the village of Paracuaro after a clash between members of the community police and the Knights Templar cartel (Caballeros Templarios) near the village of Paracuaro in Michoacan state.
A looter carries boxes of beer as a Corona truck burns in a road block allegedly set up by followers of the Knights Templar cartel in Tierra Caliente. Since late last year, vigilante groups in the state of Michoacan have moved deeper into territory controlled by the Knights Templar cartel and they now are converging on Apatzingan, considered one of the gang's main strongholds.
Community police groups are cropping up all over Mexico. Here, members of the Public Safety System, or the community police of Guerrero state, march to commemorate the first anniversary of their foundation in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state.
http://img1.catalog.photos.msn.com/...-14f4-416b-bf58-7d60caf2cbd7&w=628&h=498&so=2
Jose Manuel Mireles (C), head of Michoacan state's community police, stands with vigilantes in Churumuco in Michoacan state.
Vigilantes take a rest at the town hall after entering the town of Nueva Italia.
