Drama across the border: gunmen broke into a prison in Mexico – 20 prisoners escaped, 14 dead
Ten guards and four inmates were killed in the attack that began in the early hours of Sunday morning, on the other side of El Paso. The Mexican army and many police forces managed to regain control after several hours
More than 20 inmates escaped from one of Mexico’s most notorious prisons, located just across the border from El Paso, Texas, after a group of gunmen arrived in armored vehicles and launched an attack – which left 10 guards and four inmates dead.
The armed vehicles arrived at the state-owned prison in Ciudad Juárez around 7:00 am and opened fire on the guards. This was stated in a statement by the Chihuahua State Attorney’s Office.
As mentioned, a total of 14 people were killed in the attack and 24 prisoners escaped, as well as another 14 people were injured.
The Mexican Army, National Guard soldiers and local police teams responded to the attack, and by afternoon had already managed to regain control of the prison. After that, an investigation was opened into the circumstances of the serious incident, although not very unusual.
The prison, located in the city of Cereso, is considered one of the most dangerous institutions in Latin America, which has already recorded deadly riots, including one in 2009 with 20 deaths, and another in 2011 with 17 people dead.
Last August, a large riot developed in the prison that spread to the streets of Juarez, resulting in the death of about ten people. In the same incident, two inmates were killed inside the prison, then gang members started shooting in the town and caused, among other things, the death of four workers of a radio station who were doing field work.
And in general, violent incidents are common in prisons in Mexico. Clashes regularly break out between inmates in rival gangs, with prisons like the one in Juarez housing many members of different drug cartels – so tensions rise even further.
Shortly before the attack on the prison on Sunday, city police teams were attacked by gunmen, but they gave chase and managed to arrest four men. Later, police killed two militants who were traveling in an SUV. It is not clear if there is a connection between these attacks and the break into the prison.
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