MEXICO CITY, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Armed assailants attacked a rehabilitation center in the central Mexican town of Irapuato on Wednesday, killing 24 people and injuring another seven, local media reported.

The afternoon attack targeted a rehabilitation center for young drug addicts in the community of Arandas, near Irapuato in Guanajuato state, local daily Correo quoted Irapuato Police Chief Pedro Cortes as saying.

Emergency teams took seven people to hospital following the attack with assault rifles, Cortes said.