Image
© The Associated Press/Alexandre MeneghiniSoldiers guard an armored U.S. Embassy SUV after it was fired on by gunmen and federal police on the highway leading to Cuernavaca, Mexico.
A U.S. Embassy vehicle was attacked today south of Mexico City, and Mexican Federal Police also shot at the SUV during a confusing gunbattle, the Mexican Navy reports.

Two U.S. government personnel were wounded.

Update at 5:21 p.m. ET: At least four vehicles opened fire, the Mexican Navy says, though it hasn't clarified how many were occupied by police.

Here's how AP is describing what happened, based on what's being shared at the moment:
The Navy said the embassy personnel were heading down a dirt road to a military installation when a carload of gunmen opened fire on them and chased them, along with a Navy officer accompanying them.

The Americans' vehicle tried to escape, but three other cars joined the original vehicle in pursuing them down the road. Occupants of all four vehicles opened fire, and the Navy captain called more help. Federal police officers and Mexican army troops then showed up on the road. The statement does not make clear whose bullets injured the U.S. workers
Update at 4:43 p.m. ET: The Mexican Navy now says that federal police shot at the U.S. vehicle after it was attacked by a carload of unidentified gunmen, the Associated Press is reporting. It's not clear whether the two U.S. personnel, traveling with a Mexican Navy officer, were wounded by bullets from the gunmen or the police.

The AP writes that it "appears to have been a case of a confused gunbattle" on a dirt road leading to a military installation. The gunmen fired on and chased the SUV, which bears diplomatic license plates, before the federal police arrived and began shooting. The gunmen escaped.

The BBC reports that more than 30 shots were fired and that the police were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle in the area.

Update at 3:22 p.m. ET: The Associated Press, citing an unnamed official, said two U.S. government personnel were hospitalized. One was shot in the stomach and a hand, and the other suffered a leg wound. They were in an armored SUV when they were fired on, reportedly by occupants of a Mexican Federal Police vehicle.

Neither works for the Drug Enforcement Administration or the FBI, but the official would not identify their affiliation.

Original post by Douglas Stanglin:

Update at 2:59 p.m. ET: CNN initially reported that three Marines on a diplomatic mission were injured and taken to a hospital in Cuernavaca.

CNN later says there are conflicting reports on the persons injured. The cable news network, however, continues to report that a U.S. diplomatic car was fired upon by gunmen purportedly in a Mexican federal police vehicle.

The Mexican newspaper El Sol de Mexico reports that two DEA shooting instructors were among three people shot in an incident in the village of Fierro del Toro Huitzilac Township.

It says the Americans were traveling in a Toyota pickup with diplomatic plates.

The newspaper notes that "given the secrecy of the federal authorities," Mexican police patrolling the area may not have been aware of the occupants of the vehicle and may have fired on it if the occupants did not stop.

CNN quoted an unidentified Mexican military official earlier as saying gunmen in a purported Mexican federal police vehicle fired on a U.S. Embassy vehicle in which Marines were riding.

Adding to the confusion, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials tells CNN that a U.S. diplomatic vehicle was "shot up" but that none of its officers was involved.

The Mexican military official told CNN that occupants of the U.S. Embassy vehicle were wearing civilian clothes and were on an undisclosed diplomatic mission.