49 killed, scores injured in Mexico prison riot

At least 49 prison inmates lost their lives after a riot by rival gangs broke out in Monterrey’s Topo Chico prison.

According to Nuevo Leon governor Jaime Rodriguez,12 people were also seriously injured in the fracas which took place in the north-eastern city state prison.

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Rodriguez said the famous Zetas gang were engaged in a face-off with another group which occurred in two areas of the Topo Chico prison.

“During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas,” Rodriguez told reporters at a press conference.

While addressing newsmen at the conference, Rodriguez said there was no gunfire in the deadly face-off but he didn’t state how the victims died.

Al Jazeera’s Adam Raney, reporting from Mexico City, said: “The governor made a point of saying that no one had escaped; that this was not an escape attempt but a battle between two groups in the prison.”

When news broke about reported deaths at the prison, disturbed families of inmates stormed the prison facility with some shaking and kicking at the prison gates, demanding to be allowed in.

“Police had to come out in riot gear and push these family members back,” Al Jazeera’s Raney said.

“People are very agitated,” he continued. “Mexican prisons are often corrupt, crowded and very violent places – there’s a whole history of protests and riots that get out of hand.”

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