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At least 25 dead in clashes at Venezuelan prison At least 25 dead in clashes at Venezuelan prison
(32 minutes later)
At least 25 inmates have died after clashes broke out at a jail inside a Venezuelan police station, according to a rights group.At least 25 inmates have died after clashes broke out at a jail inside a Venezuelan police station, according to a rights group.
At least 20 police officers were wounded, Una Ventana a la Libertad said.At least 20 police officers were wounded, Una Ventana a la Libertad said.
The jail, in Acarigua, is designed to hold 250 people but currently has around 540 inmates, the Venezuelan Prison Observatory said.The jail, in Acarigua, is designed to hold 250 people but currently has around 540 inmates, the Venezuelan Prison Observatory said.
It was not immediately clear what led to the violence. Police said grenades were detonated during the incident.
Police said grenades were detonated. Oscar Valero, citizen security officer for Portuguesa state, told reporters that there was an "attempted escape" and a fight "among rival gangs".
The prisons ministry told the AFP news agency that police station prisons are not under their control. It did not comment further on the incident. Humberto Prado from the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory rights group told Reuters news agency: "How is it that there was a confrontation between prisoners and police, but there are only dead prisoners? And if the prisoners had weapons, how did those weapons get in?"
Mr Prado said that the violence broke out when authorities entered the block to carry out searches and remove female visitors.
Venezuela has had a number of violent prison clashes in recent years. In March 2018, 68 inmates died in a fire at a police jail.Venezuela has had a number of violent prison clashes in recent years. In March 2018, 68 inmates died in a fire at a police jail.
In August 2017, at least 37 people were killed when a riot broke out in a prison in southern Venezuela.In August 2017, at least 37 people were killed when a riot broke out in a prison in southern Venezuela.