Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

44 Dead in Mexico Prison Riot

Rival drug gangs probably contributed to violence

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 20, 2012 8:07 AM CST

(Newser) – The death toll in yesterday's riot inside a Mexican prison has now climbed to 44, officials say. No guards were among the dead, but MSNBC reports that corrupt ones may have helped enable the brawl. All the Apodaca prison's guards are reportedly being held for questioning. The clash was initially blamed on an effort to transfer some of the prisoners, but rival drug gangs also likely contributed to the fighting, the Los Angeles Times reports; most of the inmates involved were imprisoned on drug-related charges. A state spokesperson says all the victims were killed with knives, clubs, or stones.

As Mexico's drug war overcrowds prisons with inmates, violence between rival gangs in prisons is worsening; such violence has claimed more than 100 lives in the past two years and has also contributed to mass escapes. The Apodaca prison had a population of 3,000 despite the fact that it was built to hold just 1,500. Last week, more than 350 were killed in a fire at an overcrowded Honduras prison.

A state police officer wearing a face mask stands behind the fence as relatives of inmates wait for news after a prison riot at Apodaca correctional state facility, Feb. 19, 2012.
A state police officer wearing a face mask stands behind the fence as relatives of inmates wait for news after a prison riot at Apodaca correctional state facility, Feb. 19, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hand Maximo Musielik)
A child yells out for her father as she pushes on a gate where police stand on the other side at the Apodaca correctional state facility in Apodaca, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.
A child yells out for her father as she pushes on a gate where police stand on the other side at the Apodaca correctional state facility in Apodaca, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hans Maximo Musielik)
Police hold back the relatives of inmates outside the Apodaca correctional state facility as they try to get past the gates in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.
Police hold back the relatives of inmates outside the Apodaca correctional state facility as they try to get past the gates in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hans Maximo Musielik)
Police hold back the relatives of inmates outside Apodaca correctional state facility as they try to get past the gates in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.
Police hold back the relatives of inmates outside Apodaca correctional state facility as they try to get past the gates in Apodaca on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday Feb. 19, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hand Maximo Musielik)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
38%
5%
24%
5%
19%
10%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 4 comments
toeser
Feb 20, 2012 6:54 PM CST
Who cares?  Seriously, who cares?
n230099
Feb 20, 2012 9:20 AM CST
On the bright side, it does delay the expense of building more prison space.

 
prison • Mexico • Mexican drug war • Monterrey • Mexican drug cartel • Mexico drug war • Mexican drug gangs • Mexico drug cartels • Monterrey, Mexico • prison riot

More Newser Stories

Mexico: 30 Zetas Escaped in Prison Riot

20 Dead in Mexican Prison Riot

5 Severed Heads Left at Mexican School

53 Killed in Attack on Mexican Casino

Body Count in Mexican Mass Graves Hits 116
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment