Nine inmates and a child visiting a relative were killed in a clash at El Castillo prison in Mexico’s north-western Sinaloa state on Thursday, 8 October, authorities said.
Sixteen inmates were injured and taken for medical treatment after the violence broke out during family visiting hours at the prison in Mazatlán. State authorities confirmed the toll of 10 deaths. apnews.com, infobae.com
Security forces restore control
The Associated Press reported that the army, National Guard, navy and state security forces entered the prison to restore order.
Sinaloa’s Public Security Secretariat said the facility was under control and security personnel remained inside to maintain order. It said the rest of the prison population was safe. apnews.com, proyectopuente.com.mx
Family visits suspended
Authorities suspended visits as a precaution following the clash. Social workers began contacting relatives of those who died to provide information, according to the security secretariat.
State security secretary Sinuhé Téllez López confirmed that the visitor who died was a child. Officials had not announced when family visits would resume. proyectopuente.com.mx, infobae-infobae-prod.web.arc-cdn.net
Prosecutors investigate the violence
According to Infobae’s account of his remarks, Téllez said the confrontation involved inmates and ruled out an armed group entering from outside.
He said two handguns had been found inside the prison. How the weapons entered the facility would form part of the state prosecutor’s investigation.
The inquiry is intended to establish what happened and determine responsibility. Authorities have not yet publicly established what triggered the confrontation. infobae-infobae-prod.web.arc-cdn.net, proyectopuente.com.mx
