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Mexico prison riot: 52 people killed in Monterrey Mexico prison riot: 52 people killed in Monterrey
(35 minutes later)
Fifty-two people have been killed and 12 wounded in a prison riot in Monterrey, north-eastern Mexico, the state governor has confirmed, just days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to another prison nearby.Fifty-two people have been killed and 12 wounded in a prison riot in Monterrey, north-eastern Mexico, the state governor has confirmed, just days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to another prison nearby.
Jaime Rodríguez Calderón, the governor of Nuevo León, said the violence involved a brutal fight between rival factions, including one led by a member of the Zetas drug cartel. All 52 victims were male, Rodríguez said, adding that they had not yet all been identified. Five of the 12 wounded had serious injuries. The incident was one of the worst in a series of deadly riots in recent years to rock the country’s overpopulated prisons, which often house inmates from different drug cartels.
The riot started before dawn, local media said. Television images showed police vehicles patrolling the streets near the prison. Milenio reported that inmates’ relatives who had been within the jail’s premises for conjugal visits had seen inmates with burns, and that authorities were searching for escapees. Fighting broke out before midnight in two areas of the Topo Chico prison between a faction of the Zetas gang and another group, Nuevo León state governor Jaime Rodríguez said.
Rodríguez said all 52 victims were male, adding that they had not yet all been identified. Five of the 12 wounded had serious injuries.
“During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas,” Rodríguez told reporters. It was not immediately clear how the victims died but Rodríguez said there was no gunfire.
Rodríguez said the situation had been brought under control at about 1.30am. Television images showed police vehicles patrolling the streets near the prison. Milenio reported that inmates’ relatives who had been within the jail’s premises for conjugal visits had seen inmates with burns, and that authorities were searching for escapees.
The areas holding women and elderly inmates were calm, and Rodríguez said no women or children were hurt.
Relatives of inmates shook the prison gates and tossed rocks at guards and police on the other side. “I want to know that my daughter is OK. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there,” one woman said.Relatives of inmates shook the prison gates and tossed rocks at guards and police on the other side. “I want to know that my daughter is OK. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there,” one woman said.
Related: 'A new era for Juárez': Pope's visit hails optimism for a city ravaged by drug wars
A 2014 human rights report said the prison was packed with 25% more criminals than it could hold, and faulted it for not preventing violent incidents. The prison has long housed members of the Zetas , and one Zetas leader was stabbed to death there in September.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly riots in recent years to hit the country’s overcrowded prisons, which often house inmates from different drug gangs.The incident is the latest in a series of deadly riots in recent years to hit the country’s overcrowded prisons, which often house inmates from different drug gangs.
In 2013, at least 13 people were killed and 65 injured in a prison riot, which was blamed on gang violence, in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. In 2012, at least 44 inmates died in a Nuevo León prison when members of the notorious Zetas drug cartel plotted with prison guards in an elaborate escape.In 2013, at least 13 people were killed and 65 injured in a prison riot, which was blamed on gang violence, in the central Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. In 2012, at least 44 inmates died in a Nuevo León prison when members of the notorious Zetas drug cartel plotted with prison guards in an elaborate escape.
Pope Francis is set to begin his first visit to Mexico as pontiff on Friday. Next week, he is set to visit a prison in the border city of Ciudad Juárez, which was once one of the most violent cities in the world.Pope Francis is set to begin his first visit to Mexico as pontiff on Friday. Next week, he is set to visit a prison in the border city of Ciudad Juárez, which was once one of the most violent cities in the world.