Twenty-two people were killed in Sonora yesterday in what was the bloodiest day in recent years in the fight against drug cartels. Fifteen traffickers were left dead, as well as five police officers and two civilians. Two other officers were found beaten and left for dead. The fifteen killed were part of a group of armed men numbering about forty-five or fifty whom the police were battling in Cananea.

The confrontation took place when seven police officers and two civilians were taken hostage Wednesday morning. State police were sent in shortly thereafter.