Cops find 53 BAGS of human remains at international art festival after dog spotted carrying human hand in its mouth

A DOG spotted carrying a human hand in his mouth sparked the gruesome discovery of 53 bin bags crammed full of body parts in Mexico. Cops found the horrific mass grave at an international arts festival in the Mexican town of Irapuato in Guanajuato state, around 170 miles northwest of the capital Mexico City. AFPMore than 53 bags of human remains have been discovered in a mass grave in Mexico[/caption] AFPAuthorities were alerted after a dog was spotted with a human hand in its mouth[/caption] AFPPolice are blaming the deadly cartel wars for the find[/caption] The terrifying find was made after a dog returned carrying a human hand in its mouth. Bibian Mendoza, the founder of a women’s collective searching for missing persons, said she had come in search of her brother after hearing reports of the dog. She followed the pup, which led her directly to the mass grave. The remains have now been exhumed and analysed after they were first discovered in October. READ MORE ON MEXICO'S DRUG WAR BLOOD IN THE SAND Shock pics show tortured bodies washed ashore next to horrified tourists BAR BLOODBATH At least 12 killed after drug cartel gunmen burst into bar and begin firing It isn’t yet known how many of the remains have been identified, but it is believed that experts are working with police to do so. So far, Bibian’s brother hasn’t been named. Bibian told Agence France-Presse: “While people from all over the world were celebrating the Cervantino festival, an international arts festival in the area, we were digging up bodies. “At the same time, I thought it was useless because they were burying more people elsewhere.” Most read in News ESCO-BARRED UK's 'Pablo Escobar' is released from prison but is banned from using WhatsApp BYE BIFF Beloved trampolining dog from John Lewis Christmas advert dies CHRISTMAS CHAOS New UK train strike dates announced as unions target Christmas & World Cup ‘HEARTS OF GOLD’ Girl, 16, & boy, 19, killed at car meet after Nissan crashed into crowd LEVI TWIST Chilling update in case of missing X-Factor star Levi after cops find passport PLAYING WITH FIRE Russia's war risks sparking new European bloodbath, warns ex-Nato chief Police officers were pictured protecting members of Bibian’s group “Hasta Encontrarte” (“Until we find you”), during the search for missing relatives in the mass grave. Guanajuato state in central Mexico has the highest homicide rate of any region of the country. The state has seen more than 2,400 murders as well as some 3,000 disappearances between January and September this year. Most violent crimes in the region are believed to be related to Mexico’s violent drug cartels. It is being driven by a years-long war between the deadly Jalisco and Sinaloa Cartels for control of the trades in cocaine and fentanyl. While people from all over the world were celebrating the Cervantino festival… we were digging up bodies Bibian Mendoza On Sunday, several cartel members were killed after they attacked a police station in Celaya, some 40 miles east of Irapuato. A shooting at a bar in Apaseo el Alto in Guanajuato left nine people dead on November 9. As well as fighting over drugs, cartels are increasingly at war over the theft of fuel in the face of soaring prices. “Gang violence, often associated with the theft of petroleum and natural gas from the state oil company and other suppliers, occurs in Guanajuato, primarily in the south and central areas of the state,” the US Department of State wrote in a travel advisory last month. “Of particular concern is the high number of murders in the southern region of the state associated with cartel-related violence.” It comes just weeks after a dog was seen carrying a decapitated head in its mouth in central Mexico. Residents of the violence-ridden state of Zacatecas, Mexico, were shocked when they witnessed a stray dog carrying the decapitated remains on Wednesday evening. A law enforcement official said the head had been dumped on a cardboard placard next to a Mexican ATM booth in Monte Escobedo. Read More on The Sun ICE JOB We're Icelanders and these are our tips for keeping your windscreen ice-free Festive fail I ruined Christmas for my 3-year-old daughter after making a present mistake Terrified residents saw the animal running away with the corpse’s head before police could investigate the crime scene. The gruesome remains were left with the message “the next head is yours”, signed off by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s (JNGC) leader El Mencho, who is also the most wanted man in Mexico. AFPGuanajuato in central Mexico is the country’s deadliest state[/caption] AFPMembers of ‘Hasta Encontrarte’ (‘Until we find you’) searched for missing relatives[/caption] AFPMost of the remains are yet to be identified[/caption]