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Mexico prison riot leaves 52 dead near Monterrey | Mexico prison riot leaves 52 dead near Monterrey |
(35 minutes later) | |
A battle between rival groups at a prison near Monterrey in northern Mexico has left 52 inmates dead. | A battle between rival groups at a prison near Monterrey in northern Mexico has left 52 inmates dead. |
Nuevo Leon state Governor Jaime Rodriguez said 12 other people were injured in Topo Chico jail after prisoners fought with "sharp weapons, bats and sticks". | Nuevo Leon state Governor Jaime Rodriguez said 12 other people were injured in Topo Chico jail after prisoners fought with "sharp weapons, bats and sticks". |
A fire was also started in a storage room. Officials say the situation is under control and no inmates escaped. | A fire was also started in a storage room. Officials say the situation is under control and no inmates escaped. |
Crowds of relatives outside the jail blocked roads, demanding information. | Crowds of relatives outside the jail blocked roads, demanding information. |
Some threw sticks and rocks and tried to pull the prison gate open as riot police blocked their way. | Some threw sticks and rocks and tried to pull the prison gate open as riot police blocked their way. |
"They haven't told us anything," said the mother of one inmate, who gave her name only as Ernestina. | "They haven't told us anything," said the mother of one inmate, who gave her name only as Ernestina. |
"They said that until there is order they won't let us in. Everything is in disorder, and nobody is telling us anything." | "They said that until there is order they won't let us in. Everything is in disorder, and nobody is telling us anything." |
The incident comes just days before Pope Francis is due to visit a prison in the northern city of Ciudad Juarez, an area notorious for violence between drugs cartels. | The incident comes just days before Pope Francis is due to visit a prison in the northern city of Ciudad Juarez, an area notorious for violence between drugs cartels. |
Initial reports said up to 60 people had died and anxious families of inmates had to wait several hours before Mr Rodriguez confirmed the numbers. | Initial reports said up to 60 people had died and anxious families of inmates had to wait several hours before Mr Rodriguez confirmed the numbers. |
He said the fight had started around midnight and lasted about 30-40 minutes, during which time the two groups of inmates set fire to a storage area. | He said the fight had started around midnight and lasted about 30-40 minutes, during which time the two groups of inmates set fire to a storage area. |
He said one faction was led by a member of the notorious Zetas drug cartel, Juan Pedro Zaldivar Farias, also known as Z-27. | He said one faction was led by a member of the notorious Zetas drug cartel, Juan Pedro Zaldivar Farias, also known as Z-27. |
Mr Rodriguez said the other group was led by Jorge Ivan Hernandez Cantu, whom Mexican media identified as a member of the rival Gulf cartel. | Mr Rodriguez said the other group was led by Jorge Ivan Hernandez Cantu, whom Mexican media identified as a member of the rival Gulf cartel. |
It is not clear if either of the two men are among the victims. | It is not clear if either of the two men are among the victims. |
Mr Rodriguez said all those killed were male inmates and that five of the injured were in a serious condition. | |
"We are experiencing a tragedy stemming from the difficult situation that they are living through at penitentiary facilities," Mr Rodriguez told a news conference. | "We are experiencing a tragedy stemming from the difficult situation that they are living through at penitentiary facilities," Mr Rodriguez told a news conference. |
"We can confirm the deaths of 52 people. The process of identifying victims continues." | "We can confirm the deaths of 52 people. The process of identifying victims continues." |
Speaking later, he said security was being beefed up at other prisons and some inmates had been transferred out of Topo Chico. | |
He said that although rioters had not had guns, one inmate appeared to have been shot dead by a guard who was protecting a group of women inmates. | |
A report by the National Human Rights Commission in 2014 said the Topo Chico prison housed about 4,600 inmates but was only designed to hold 3,635. | |
Topo Chico prison | Topo Chico prison |
Earlier, state public security spokesman Antonio Arguello told AFP news agency that authorities had quickly formed a security cordon around the facility to ensure no inmates escaped. | Earlier, state public security spokesman Antonio Arguello told AFP news agency that authorities had quickly formed a security cordon around the facility to ensure no inmates escaped. |
Witnesses reported hearing shouts and explosions when the riot began. Flames and smoke were then seen coming from the prison. | Witnesses reported hearing shouts and explosions when the riot began. Flames and smoke were then seen coming from the prison. |
Gang violence and break-outs are common in Mexico's notoriously overcrowded and corrupt prison system. | Gang violence and break-outs are common in Mexico's notoriously overcrowded and corrupt prison system. |
In 2013, 13 people died in a battle between inmates at the La Pila jail in the central state of San Luis Potosi. | In 2013, 13 people died in a battle between inmates at the La Pila jail in the central state of San Luis Potosi. |
A year earlier, 44 inmates were killed in a riot at the Apodaca prison in Monterrey. Another 30 prisoners escaped. The prison's director was later sacked. | A year earlier, 44 inmates were killed in a riot at the Apodaca prison in Monterrey. Another 30 prisoners escaped. The prison's director was later sacked. |
Are you in Monterrey? You can email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Monterrey? You can email your story to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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