Deadly grenades hit Mexican celebration

MORELIA, Mexico, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- People mourned in Morelia, Mexico, Tuesday, the day after seven people died when hand grenades went off in a plaza during Independence Day festivities.

More than 100 more people were injured in Monday's attack in the Michoacan state capital, which was believed to have been carried out by drug traffickers, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

State Gov. Leonel Godoy was ringing a bell at 11 p.m. Monday in Morelia to mark the start of Independence Day when the first grenade went off. Mexican President Felipe Calderon is a native of Morelia, although he was in Mexico City for Independence Day.

Godoy declared Tuesday, which should have been a day of celebration of Mexican independence from Spain, a day of mourning in Morelia.

"We are really shocked, worried because those who were killed and injured were regular people in Morelia like those throughout the country who are used to going to these public celebrations. They are the poorest people who don't have other diversions," he said.

Authorities suggested that violent Mexican drug gangs are now going after civilians as well as police and criminal rivals.