<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Gunmen have killed the mayor of the city of San Miguel Totolapan, in south-western Mexico, and at least 18 others, officials have confirmed.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Police say gunmen attacked the city hall at 14:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, with photos posted online showing the building riddled with bullet holes.</div><div><br></div><div>Mayor Conrado Mendoza Almeda's party, the PRD, has condemned his "cowardly" assassination and demanded justice.</div><div><br></div><div>The attack has been blamed on the Los Tequileros criminal gang.</div><div><br></div><div>Police officers and council workers were also killed in the massacre, with graphic images of bloodied bodies lying on the ground circulating on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Mr Mendoza Almeda's father, former mayor Juan Mendoza Acosta, was also killed - in his home - before the attack moved to the city hall.</div><div><br></div><div>A highway in the state of Guerrero, where San Miguel Totolapan lies - was reportedly briefly blocked by large vehicles to prevent security forces from getting into the city.</div><div><br></div><div>In a preliminary report seen by local media, Guerrero's attorney general said that 18 people were killed and three others were wounded.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the attack, the Ministry of National Defence said it was deploying army and navy units to the area to find the gunmen.</div><div><br></div><div>Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda tweeted to say she deeply regretted the deaths.</div><div><br></div><div>Shortly before the attack, alleged members of Los Tequileros released a video on social networks announcing its return to the region, where they had been fighting a rival drug gang.</div><div><br></div><div>The criminal group devastated Guerrero between 2015 and 2017 - and was known for threatening mayors of the region - until its leader, Raybel Jacobo de Almonte was assassinated.</div><div><br></div><div>De Almonte was known as El Tequilero - the Tequila Drinker - and his gang took their name from him. BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh&nbsp;</div>