TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mexico – At least 40 police officers and an unspecified number of inmates were injured in a riot at prison No. 14 in Chiapas, a state in southern Mexico, where authorities have regained control of the facility after 72 hours, officials said Sunday.
Police found a tunnel “to be used for a massive escape” at the El Amate prison, located in the city of Cintalapa about two hours from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the Chiapas state government said in a statement.
The prison riot started Thursday over the transfer of an inmate and resulted in 105 women and 90 children visiting the facility ending up trapped inside.
The prison uprising’s leader, Ermidio Castro Rangel, who was convicted of criminal conspiracy and extortion, spent six years running “a self-proclaimed government characterized by constant acts of repression and extortion against other inmates,” the Chiapas state government said.
A total of 2,123 federal and local police officers participated in the operation to regain control of the prison.
The officers restored order without using firearms or tear gas, officials said.
“During the onslaught, the assailants threw chunks from nearly 4,000 concrete blocks that they had made in recent months to build an Adventist church inside the prison,” the Chiapas state government said.
Castro Rangel and seven other inmates were arrested after other prisoners identified them as the main organizers of the riot.
The inmates were transferred Saturday to other prisons across Mexico.
The injured officers, one of whom is in serious condition, were taken to different hospitals for treatment.
The women and children taken hostage by the inmates were all freed.
Officers seized five tear gas canisters, a fire bomb, two firearms, knives, ammunition, cocaine and marijuana from the inmates.
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Source: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=361130&CategoryId=14091
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Police found a tunnel “to be used for a massive escape” at the El Amate prison, located in the city of Cintalapa about two hours from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the Chiapas state government said in a statement.
The prison riot started Thursday over the transfer of an inmate and resulted in 105 women and 90 children visiting the facility ending up trapped inside.
The prison uprising’s leader, Ermidio Castro Rangel, who was convicted of criminal conspiracy and extortion, spent six years running “a self-proclaimed government characterized by constant acts of repression and extortion against other inmates,” the Chiapas state government said.
A total of 2,123 federal and local police officers participated in the operation to regain control of the prison.
The officers restored order without using firearms or tear gas, officials said.
“During the onslaught, the assailants threw chunks from nearly 4,000 concrete blocks that they had made in recent months to build an Adventist church inside the prison,” the Chiapas state government said.
Castro Rangel and seven other inmates were arrested after other prisoners identified them as the main organizers of the riot.
The inmates were transferred Saturday to other prisons across Mexico.
The injured officers, one of whom is in serious condition, were taken to different hospitals for treatment.
The women and children taken hostage by the inmates were all freed.
Officers seized five tear gas canisters, a fire bomb, two firearms, knives, ammunition, cocaine and marijuana from the inmates.
.
.
Source: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=361130&CategoryId=14091
.
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