No fewer than 52 people have died and 12 others sustained various degrees of injury in a riot at the Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Mexico yesterday. This is coming just a week to the visit to Mexico of Pope Francis, especially to prison in the nearby Ciudad Juarez.
The violent riot and a fire in the Monterrey prison was confirmed by Nuevo Leon governor Jaime Rodriguez.
The fight reportedly began between two members of different factions; one led by a member of the notorious Zetas drug cartel. Authorities believe the fire might have been initiated as a distraction to attempt an escape, but assure that no inmates fled the prison’s facilities.
The Civil Police Force and the Mexican Army reportedly controlled the incident, after being sent to surround the prison and contain the damages inside.
It was learnt that after the news broke, hundreds of family members rushed to the gates of Topo Chico demanding information about their loved ones who were still inside.
“I want to know that my daughter is OK. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there,” one woman said.
So far authorities have not confirmed if this will change the Pontiff’s agenda. [myad]
