Gunmen kill over 20 in two attacks in northern Honduras PHOTO

At least 24 people, including four police officers, have been killed in two separate armed attacks in northern Honduras, authorities say.

The deadliest incident occurred at a ranch in the coastal municipality of Trujillo, where at least 19 agricultural workers were shot dead, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Prosecutor’s office spokesman Yuri Mora said forensic teams were working across two locations at the scene and had so far confirmed 19 fatalities.

“The first team has already identified 13 deceased individuals, and the second has counted six more,” he said in local media remarks, warning the toll could rise as investigations continue.

Authorities believe the area has been affected by long-running disputes involving rival gangs competing for control of African palm plantations and drug trafficking routes.

In a separate attack in the municipality of Omoa, near the border with Guatemala, gunmen opened fire on police officers involved in an anti-gang operation. Police said at least four officers and one civilian were killed.

The officers had travelled from the capital, Tegucigalpa, as part of a coordinated security deployment.

Following the attacks, the National Police said they would “immediately” launch direct interventions in the affected areas.

The violence comes in the same week that Honduras’ Congress approved a package of reforms aimed at reducing crime. The country continues to record one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America, with more than 24 killings per 100,000 people.

By Aghakazim Guliyev