Honduran police have blamed street gangs linked to Mexican drug cartels for the killing of at least 18 people in a shoe factory

The massacre in the city of San Pedro Sula was connected to a dispute over territory between groups of drug traffickers, officials said. Up to four men armed with assault rifles burst into the factory and opened fire. All the victims were said to be young men. Several others were wounded. San Pedro Sula's police chief, Hector Mejia, said the attack was part of an escalating dispute between the rival Mara Salvatrucha and Mara 18 gangs. The most famous groups - the Mara 18 (M18) and Mara Salvatrucha (MS) - count tens of thousands of members in Central America. Honduran Security Minister Oscar Alvarez said police believe the shoe factory attack was a settling of scores. Mexican cartels use Central America as a smuggling route. Local gangs receive drugs in return for helping transport narcotics, officials say.