BBC News-72 Corpses Found In Mexico Were Migrants En Route To U.S.

Mexican Gov't Security Spokesman Alejandro Poire: AP

(Story reported by Julian Miglierini for the BBC News)

Mexican officials investigating the death of 72 people found murdered at a ranch in the north of the country say they were migrants trying to reach the United States.

They say the 58 men and 14 women had come from South and Central America.

Their bodies were found on Tuesday, after a shoot-out between suspected drug traffickers and security forces.

One of the surviving migrants told police the group had been kidnapped and killed by an armed gang.

The unnamed witness told Mexican officials that he had come from Ecuador, while others in the group were from countries including El Salvador, Honduras and Brazil. 

(Click here to read the full story on the BBC News website)