52 people killed in Mexican prison battle between rival drugs cartels

Distraught relatives of inmates gather outside Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Mexico, scene of a battle between drug gangs

A battle between rival drug gangs at a prison killed 52 people in the northeastern Mexican city of Monterrey, authorities said yesterday, days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to another jail in Mexico's far north.

The incident was one of the worst in a series of deadly riots in recent years to rock the country's overpopulated prisons, which often house inmates from different drug cartels.

Fighting broke out before midnight in two areas of the Topo Chico prison between a faction of the brutal Zetas gang and another group, Nuevo Leon state Governor Jaime Rodriguez said.

"During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas," Mr Rodriguez told reporters.

It was not immediately clear how the victims died but Mr Rodriguez said there was no gunfire.

Mr Rodriguez said the situation had been brought under control at about 1.30am yesterday and ruled out a prison break.

Worried family members outside the prison at one point forced open the prison gates and threw timber and stones at riot police inside.

"I want to know that my daughter is okay. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there," said one woman outside the prison as other relatives shouted and cursed.

The areas holding women and elderly inmates were calm, and Mr Rodriguez said no women or children were hurt.

Pope Francis is set to begin his first visit to Mexico as pontiff today.

Next week, he will visit a prison in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, which was once one of the most violent cities in the world.

(Source :independent.ie)

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