Many dead and wounded in Mexico prison riot

At least 16 inmates are dead and five others wounded following a prison riot in the central Mexican state of Zacatecas.

The Public Security Ministry reported Wednesday that prisoners fought one another with firearms and knives, which were subsequently seized after the riot, which took place on New Year's Eve.

A prisoner in possession of a firearm was arrested later, and, according to a statement released by the ministry, "Three other handguns were found, as well as knives, with which the homicides were allegedly perpetrated."

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Officials said they were searching the premises to find any weapons that might still be in the facility.

Prison had been searched

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernandez said the prison had been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday, with no firearms found on the premises. He believes the weapons were brought into Cieneguillas state prison during New Year's Eve visitations on the day of the riot.

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The Public Security Ministry said the chaos started around 2:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, with officials getting the situation under control by 5 p.m. No guards or police were wounded in the incident, said Camberos.

Fifteen of the victims died in the prison while another died in the hospital.

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Some died from gunshot wounds while others were stabbed or beaten with objects. Mexican prisons have long been plagued by violent and often fatal riots, due to overcrowding and the presence of organized crime rings.

Six inmates died after a prison riot in the central state of Morelos last October. In February 2016, 49 prisoners died in a riot in the now-closed Topo Chico prison in Nuevo Leon state.

lc/se (AP, AFP)

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