Mexico City, June 18 (teleSUR-RHC)-- In Mexico's eastern state of Veracruz, there have been at least 3,316 homicides and 426 kidnappings between 2011 and March of 2015, according to new federal figures.

The numbers, which were collected by the National Public Security System, were released on Thursday by Veracruz lawmaker Danner Gonzalez Rodriguez who showed concern for the high level of violence in the state, which also seems to be rising.

According to figures, between 2005 and 2010, there were 2,779 homicides and 53 kidnappings reported in the state of Veracruz. Gonzalez Rodriguez showed particular concern for the state's youth, citing a recent case at the University of Veracruz where eight students were attacked.

“We find it quite worrying that there is this escalation of violence against young people in Veracruz,” said Gonzalez Rodriguez. “Specialists have warned that since September 24, 2014, even before the case of Ayotzinapa, 85 percent of those missing in the country were young people between the ages of 29 and 44. We have a serious problem. We should ask, what future we are building for children and youth of this country? That future is a desolate wasteland full of crosses.”

According to Mexican news organization Revolución 3.0, the eight students who were attacked in Veracruz – all between the ages of 19 and 32 – were all activists. They were members of a local environmental organization called Advocacy and Integral Strategies for Human Rights and the Territory and participated in marches for the 43 Ayotzinapa students, who were forcibly disappeared last September and remain missing. The Mexican government has denied any involvement in the students' attack in Veracruz.