Mexico City, July 20 (DPA) Mexican police have arrested one of the ten most wanted criminals in the United States and US officials have asked for his extradition, Mexican judicial officials said Sunday.

Emigdio Preciado, 39, was wanted for an attack on two Los angeles County sheriff's department deputies in September 2000 in Whittier, California, during a routine traffic stop, the FBI said on its website.

Preciado's photograph is stamped 'captured' on the website. The FBI said he had fired 21 shots from an assault rifle and caused serious injury to one of the sheriff's deputies.

Preciado was apprehended in Mexico's northwest Friday night, according to laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman.