Rio de Janerio, January 27: At least 14 people were killed overnight in a shootout at a nightclub in Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, officials said. "We can confirm 14 deaths," Andre Costa, security secretary for the state of Ceara -- of which Fortaleza is the capital -- told a press conference.

Costa said that other victims are hospitalised in serious condition, but did not say how many people were injured. A spokesperson from the Institut Jose Frota hospital told AFP that six people, including a 12-year-old boy, had been rushed in for emergency care.

The police officials stated around 15 gunmen stormed into the party held at Forró do Gago nightclub in the Cajazeiras area of the city and shot dead "a large number of people".  The horrific incident took place on Saturday morning near the Arena Castelao soccer stadium that was used in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Police believe the shooting is a result of a war between two rival drug trafficking gangs. Most of the victims had nothing to do with it and were simply present at the wrong place at a wrong time.

Earlier on January 7, a similar bloodied battle took place between drug gangs, resulting in the death of four people in the suburbs of Fortaleza. But now the nightclub shooting is believed to be the worst in the city's history.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2018 10:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).