52 dead in Mexican prison riot

By Nancy Caouette

MEXICO CITY

At least 52 people have been killed in a prison riot in Mexico, authorities said Thursday.

Another 12 victims were injured and five more are in critical condition, according to Gov. Jaime Rodriguez of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon where the riot occurred. It’s unclear if all of the deceased are inmates.

Rodriguez said two groups of inmates initiated a fight around 11:30 p.m. (0530GMT) and set a food storage room on fire.

Anti-riot police and ambulances were deployed to the Topo Chico prison in Monterrey after the melee broke out just after midnight but was under control by 0730GMT.

“Even if some people tried to escape, it does not happen. Authorities erected an encirclement and the situation was under control at 1:30 a.m. (0713GMT),” said prison spokesman Antonio Arguello.

A cloud of smoke was seen rising from the facility shortly after midnight, according to witnesses, but the fire appeared to have been extinguished by early morning.

"We are living a tragedy", Rodriguez said, "The incident is painful and regrettable."

The riot comes barely six days before Pope Francis will visit another northern prison that also borders the U.S. state of Texas.

Several riots have occurred in overcrowded Mexican prisons in recent years.

In Feb. 2012, at least 44 inmates died at one prison that was also in Nuevo Leon, when members of a drug cartel conspired with prison guards and officials to hatch an escape plan.

Francis will arrive Friday in Mexico to begin his first tour of the country as pontiff in a visit that will include a stop at the Cereso 3 prison in Cuidad Juarez -- a city ranked as the world’s most violent between 2012 and 2014.