Mexican Police Chief Killed in Ambush- grenades thrown

VERACRUZ, Mexico – A municipal police chief in the Mexican state of Veracruz was killed and four of his officers badly wounded in an ambush, authorities said.

The attack took place early Tuesday on a highway in the southern part of the Gulf coast state.

Armando Sanchez Garibay, the police commander in the town of Lerdo de Tejada, and four subordinates were traveling in a patrol vehicle when they were assaulted by gunmen aboard two pick-up trucks.

The attackers hurled grenades and fired bursts from automatic weapons, leaving the police vehicle in flames.

Sanchez Garibay died en route to a hospital and the other four officers remain hospitalized.

Veracruz state police and army troops rushed to the scene, arresting two suspects and seizing the pick-up trucks abandoned by the assailants.