MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities say a mob of about 100 people in the central Mexican state of Hidalgo have doused a detective with gasoline and burned him to death.
The Hidalgo state prosecutors' office said the crowd attacked local police in the town of Metepec and took the detective and three other men captive.
They severely beat the men and burned the detective after dousing him with fuel. It was unclear if he was on duty.
The mob reportedly took action amid rumors that the men were planning to abduct children.
There have been five killings in the span of about a month in Mexico based on false rumors about child snatchers. In four of those cases, the victims were also burned.
Authorities say the rumors circulate on social media.
