Oliva said that soldiers and federal and state police were on patrol in the town of Apaseo el Alto when assailants opened fire. Local media reported that all the dead were gunmen but Oliva didn't confirm that.
Oliva said arrests have been made, but he gave no other details.
Mexico has been suffering a wave of gang violence that has left more than 10,800 people dead since President Felipe Calderon took office in December 2006, and launched a military-led crackdown on drug traffickers.
QUICK HEADLINES | MORE US/WORLD | GET NEWS ALERTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC13 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook® | Follow us on Twitter | More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC13
ABC13 widget | Most popular stories |
Street-level weather
ABC13 wireless |
Slideshow archive |
Help solve crimes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
