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Drugs gang 'kills 33 inmates' in Brazilian jail | Drugs gang 'kills 33 inmates' in Brazilian jail |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least 33 prisoners have been killed in a prison in northern Brazil, just days after 56 died during a jail riot in a neighbouring state. | At least 33 prisoners have been killed in a prison in northern Brazil, just days after 56 died during a jail riot in a neighbouring state. |
The local secretary of justice, Uziel Castro, told the BBC he blamed the deaths in the prison in the state of Roraima on a drug gang. | The local secretary of justice, Uziel Castro, told the BBC he blamed the deaths in the prison in the state of Roraima on a drug gang. |
He said some bodies had been found decapitated after the incident in the Monte Cristo Rural Penitentiary. | |
But the situation was now under control, he added. | But the situation was now under control, he added. |
Officials told local media that a group of prisoners managed to break the locks on their cells in the early hours of the morning and invade a separate wing of the building, which is in the city of Boa Vista. | Officials told local media that a group of prisoners managed to break the locks on their cells in the early hours of the morning and invade a separate wing of the building, which is in the city of Boa Vista. |
Special forces are on site. | Special forces are on site. |
Mr Castro attributed the killings at the prison, which O Globo newspaper reported was housing 1,400 inmates, double its capacity, to a gang known as the PCC (standing for First Command in the Capital). | |
A 2012 government report said the gang was the largest in Brazil, earning $32m (£25.9m) a year in drug sales, with almost half its 13,000 members in jail in Sao Paulo State, where the gang originated. | A 2012 government report said the gang was the largest in Brazil, earning $32m (£25.9m) a year in drug sales, with almost half its 13,000 members in jail in Sao Paulo State, where the gang originated. |
It is unclear if this latest incident is related to Sunday's riot in Manaus, when PCC members clashed with members of a rival gang, Family of the North (FDN). | It is unclear if this latest incident is related to Sunday's riot in Manaus, when PCC members clashed with members of a rival gang, Family of the North (FDN). |
The resulting 17-hour prison uprising was the deadliest in Brazil in years. | The resulting 17-hour prison uprising was the deadliest in Brazil in years. |
Officials say police have managed to recapture 40 of the 87 prisoners who escaped in that break-out. | Officials say police have managed to recapture 40 of the 87 prisoners who escaped in that break-out. |