Violent prison riot in northern Mexico kills 11

Violent prison riot in northern Mexico kills 11

2011-01-12 21:54:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- At least eleven inmates were killed on Tuesday when a violent fight broke out at a rehabilitation center in the northern region of Mexico, officials said on Wednesday.

According to initial reports, police said the conflict began at around 5 p.m. local time in the trial area of Durango's Social Rehabilitation Center, which is located in the city of Gomez Palacio, in the northern state of Durango.

For about one hour, the prison was submerged in violence, which was reportedly caused by the murder of two lawyers - Maria de Jesus Veloz de Leon, 40, and Bibiana Guereca Amancio, 25 - who worked in the prison. The bodies of both women were found under a bridge a couple of hours before the riots began.

Military forces eventually entered and took control of the prison with the aid of local police and members of the state prosecution. Shortly after 6 p.m. local time, personnel and forensic experts, as well as Red Cross paramedics, entered the area to identify the bodies.

In a statement released by prosecutors, the bodies were said to have puncture wounds caused by sharp weapons, but official autopsies will be conducted to determine the causes of death.

All eleven men have been identified.

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