At least seven people died and five others were critically injured when gunmen opened fire at a bar in Tula, central Mexico, on Saturday. Four victims died instantly at the bar “La Resaka,” located in the El Llano neighborhood, while three others later died in hospital, said local police. The attack happened around 1:30 am when heavily armed men stormed the bar and shot at patrons. The injured were rushed to hospital for emergency care. After the attack, federal and state forces launched a strong operation but the attackers escaped. No arrests have been made yet, reported El Universal. The area stays cordoned off as the Prosecutor’s Office investigates. Nearby bars and businesses closed as a safety measure. Tula has been a violence hotspot recently. Security Secretary Salvador Cruz Neri said the area faces fights between two gangs for control over fuel theft and drug trafficking. This gang rivalry has driven the rise in violence in the region.