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Mexico prison riot leaves 52 dead near Monterrey | Mexico prison riot leaves 52 dead near Monterrey |
(35 minutes later) | |
A riot and a fire at a prison near Monterrey in northern Mexico have left 52 inmates dead. | |
Nuevo Leon state Governor Jaime Rodriguez said 12 other people were injured in Topo Chico jail after violence broke out overnight between prisoners belonging to rival factions. | Nuevo Leon state Governor Jaime Rodriguez said 12 other people were injured in Topo Chico jail after violence broke out overnight between prisoners belonging to rival factions. |
Officials say the situation is under control and no inmates have escaped. | Officials say the situation is under control and no inmates have escaped. |
Crowds of people worried about relatives inside the jail blocked roads outside, demanding information. | Crowds of people worried about relatives inside the jail blocked roads outside, demanding information. |
"I want to know that my daughter is OK. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there," one woman said. | "I want to know that my daughter is OK. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there," one woman said. |
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 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. | |
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. | |
Mr Rodriguez said all those killed were male inmates and that five of the injured were in a serious condition. He said no guns had been involved. | |
"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." |
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 and no-one had escaped. | Earlier, state public security spokesman Antonio Arguello told AFP news agency that authorities had quickly formed a security cordon around the facility and no-one had escaped. |
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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