MONTERREY, MEXICO — Fifty-two inmates were killed and 12 injured in brutal fight that officials say broke out between two rival factions in a prison in Monterrey, Mexico, on Feb. 11.
Nuevo Leon Gov. Jaime Rodriguez held a news conference saying that the fight involved a faction led by a member of the Zetas drug cartel at Topo Chico prison. The riot broke out just six days before Pope Francis is scheduled to visit another Mexican prison, in the border city of Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua state.
"During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas," Rodriguez told reporters.
Inmates relatives were reportedly inside the prison for conjugal visits at the time when explosive sounds were heard and a fire broke out early in the morning shortly after midnight.
It was not immediately clear how the victims died but Rodriguez said there was no gunfire. A one point, worried family members outside the prison forced open the gates and threw timber and stones at riot police inside.
Rodriguez said the situation was under control at about 1:30 a.m. and ruled out a prison break. In 2012, 44 inmates died in a prison massacre in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon. Three top prison officials and 26 guards were accused of helping inmates escape in the confusion.
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.
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