Twenty-four hours of terror as cartel violence engulfs Mexican city

A cargo vehicle in flames after clashes between federal forces and armed groups in the city of Culiacán. Photograph: Juan Carlos Cruz/EPA

Álvaro Arandas was approaching the check-in counter at Culiacán international airport when the pandemonium began.

“You could hear the shooting – huge blasts, so much noise,” said the Mexican businessman, who had planned to board a flight to the eastern city of San Luis Potosí.