Brazilian prison riot leaves 18 inmates dead: Official

The riot began on Monday in the Pedrinhas penitentiary complex in Maranhao state.

Eighteen inmates were killed and a prison guard shot and wounded during a prison riot in northeastern Brazil that ended today,officials said.

The riot began on Monday in the Pedrinhas penitentiary complex in Maranhao state when prisoners overpowered and shot the guard during an inspection,and took him and another five guards hostage to demand better conditions.

Nine of the prisoners were murdered in score-settling by other convicts yesterday,and the other nine today,the state secretary for security,Aluisio Guimarares,told AFP.

Story continues below this ad

Media reports said several of the inmates killed were serving time for rape. Some were reportedly decapitated.

Guimarares lamented the “useless killings.”

He added that police “have retaken control of the prison and calm has returned.”

He said the wounded guard was released by the prisoners yesterday and was in a stable condition in hospital,and the other five guards were freed unharmed today.

Prison riots are frequent in Brazil,where overcrowding of cells is common and gangs often run their wings.

Story continues below this ad

Guimarares said this latest riot occurred in a high-security wing of the penitentiary which held 320 prisoners. The whole complex has an inmate population of 4,000 — twice its official capacity.