SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Dozens killed in Mexican prison riot

At least 31 people were killed and 13 wounded in a battle among prison inmates, before the police moved in to regain control.

jail_prison_mexico_120105_b_epa_adn_1749246232

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP


Skip to article content

At least 31 people were killed and 13 wounded Wednesday in a battle among inmates that broke out in a prison in the northern Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, the state government said.

The fighting broke out in the Santa Amalia prison in the city of Altamira, a site designed to hold 2,000 inmates but which has a population of more than 3,000.

Authorities regained control after police moved in, the statement read, adding that 13 inmates involved in the fight were detained.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Federal police forces and soldiers earlier surrounded the prison, a federal source told AFP.

The prison is located in an area where the rival Gulf and Zetas gangs have a strong presence, and many of the inmates are doing time on drug-related charges.

Deadly riots and prison fights are common in Mexico's overcrowded prisons.

Twenty inmates were killed and 12 wounded in a mid-October prison fight in a jail in the border town of Matamoros, just across from Brownsville, in the US state of Texas.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world