Mexico City [Mexico], August 5 (ANI): A deadly riot at Tuxpan Prison in Mexico has left seven inmates dead and eleven others injured following violent clashes involving members of the criminal gang Grupo Sombra, Khaama Press reported on Tuesday.
International media reported that the riot took place in Veracruz state and stemmed from a confrontation between a group of inmates and members of Grupo Sombra, who had allegedly been extorting and threatening fellow prisoners and their families.
According to the Veracruz State Public Security Department, the violence erupted as tensions escalated within the prison. Videos shared on social media showed inmates claiming the riot was a protest against intimidation and threats from the gang.
Security forces regained control of the facility on Sunday and extinguished fires set by inmates during the chaos. Footage from inside the prison showed thick smoke rising above the complex and several inmates with burn injuries being transported to external medical centers for treatment.
Mexican prisons—particularly state-run facilities—have long struggled with severe overcrowding and frequent violence, often fueled by rivalries between drug cartels and criminal organizations. According to Khaama Press, such prison clashes often reflect turf wars playing out across Mexico.
In 2023, a riot at a prison in Ciudad Juárez resulted in the escape of 25 inmates and several deaths. The incident prompted human rights organizations to call for thorough investigations and sweeping reforms to address systemic failures.
This latest outbreak of violence underscores the fragile condition of Mexico’s prison system and the urgent need for structural and security reforms to curb the influence of criminal gangs. Experts warn that without meaningful intervention, these facilities will continue to act as battlegrounds for organized crime, putting inmates and public safety at risk, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)
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