Ten dead in another attack on rehab centre in Juarez, Mexico

Sep 16, 2009, 16:28 GMT

   Mexico City - Ten people were killed late Tuesday when a group of unidentified attackers raided a drug rehabilitation centre in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexican media reported Wednesday.

The attack happened at around 10:30 pm in the Anexo de Vida facility, and took place barely two weeks after a similar attack claimed 18 lives at another rehab facility in the same city.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the number of dead.

When the attack happened, Ciudad Juarez and the rest of Mexico were celebrating the 'Cry of Independence' to mark the beginning of annual Independence Day celebrations under tight security measures. Wednesday is a public holiday in Mexico, to mark the September 16, 1810 battle cry beginning Mexico's Independence War from Spain. Independence was finally attained on September 27, 1821.

   Since last August there have been at least six attacks on drug rehabilitation centres in Mexico. The authorities believe that drug dealers sometimes seek refuge in such facilities.

   Ciudad Juarez, on the border with the US state of Texas, is plagued by crime, despite the very strong military presence on its streets. Drug-related violence is rife and the city - which has great strategic importance for the drug cartels - has one of the highest murder rates of any Mexican city.