U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to help Mexico hunt the killers of nine Mormon women and children shot dead in a lawless border area. In a tweet the President also said that the US stood ready to back its southern neighbour in a “war” on the drugs cartels.

Suspected drug cartel gunmen killed nine US citizens, three women and six children, during an attack on a convoy in northern Mexico.

The victims are members of the LeBaron family, linked to a breakaway Mormon community that settled in Mexico several decades ago.

Mexican officials said six children were also wounded and another girl was missing after the attack, which left the family’s three cars riddled with bullets and badly charred.

Meanwhile, Mexico President said he would speak with Trump about possible cooperation on security, provided Mexico’s sovereignty were upheld. But he suggested he did not believe that foreign intervention was necessary.