A shootout between armed men and soldiers has erupted south of the border in Matamoros where Catholic leaders had called for a 'Day of Prayer for Peace.'
It all happened off Avenida Canales and Avenida Universidad around 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The area is a peaceful part of the city where there are lakes and popular parks but one woman reported that armed men had fired on a group of soldiers in that same area.
Several residents used Twitter to report military helicopters in the skies.
Matamoros city officials confirmed a "situation of danger" off that same area of Avenida Canales around 2:12 p.m.
Just a few minutes later, one resident reported military jeeps and helicopters in the area.
Another resident reported a blockade of a street near a lake in the area known as 'El Laguito.'
It's not clear if there are wounded or any casualties.
Further details were not immediately available.
The incident comes amid a 'Day of Prayer for Peace' by the Catholic Church.
Diocese of Matamoros leaders had called for a 24 hours of prayer from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday to bring peace to the beleaguered border city.
Participants are supposed to wear white clothes and participate at events at the cathedral off Plaza Hidalgo in downtown Matamoros.
Dozens of have been killed in the violence between rival drug trafficking organization as well as conflicts between criminals and the military.
Among the casualties is Father Marco Antonio Duran, a Catholic priest who was killed in the crossfire of a July 2nd gun battle on the city’s southside.
One young woman who identified herself as a Christian sent out a message to all city residents on Twitter.
“Unite for the “Day of Prayer for Peace” today in white clothes,” she wrote on Twitter. “Matamoros, we continue praying now more than ever.”
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