Staff -

Piedras Negras, Coah.

A woman was killed as she crossed in the line of a cross-fire situation between armed civilians and both State and local police in the neighboring city of Piedras Negras Wednesday night in what has left the city reeling in the fear of an all-out war between warring factions and Coahuila authorities and Mexican officials. Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics force were descended upon by armed groups of men who left the woman and as many as six law enforcement vehicles in flames. An official number of dead and injured was not given by press time. According to witnesses, the fire of automatic weapons was heard well into the Wednesday night for up to 45 minutes. Schools were shut down on Thursday and people were asked by government officials to remain in their homes for their safety. The woman who was killed in the crossfire was 30 years of age and was driving a white Pontiac with Texas license plates CLJ 914, she was wearing blue jeans and a green blouse and was in the area of Roman Cepeda and López Mateos Blvd. which intersects with H. Colegio Militar. State, Municipal and Tactical units battled with the armed gunmen for what was almost an hour and the sectors of the city which were closest to the exchange were Nísperos, Las Fuentes, San José, Zona Centro, González, Campo Verde and Macroplaza. The attack comes in the wake of the escape of 131 prisoners from a state prison last Monday.