5 police officers killed in southeastern Nicaragua; gang attacked to free detained comrade

MANAGUA, Nicaragua _ Nicaraguan authorities say five police officers were shot dead over the weekend in the country’s southeastern Caribbean jungle.

A National Police statement issued late Sunday says the officers were killed the previous day in a town in the Punta Gorda region after they captured a suspected member of a criminal gang.

It says other gang members attacked the patrol to free their comrade while he was being transported.

One of the officers killed was a local police chief.

Police and army troops are looking for the gang.

The Associated Press