52 dead in Brazil prison riot

At least 52 killed in Brazil prison riot between the rival gangs, most of the deaths due to suffocation as part of the prison cell set on fire.

At least 52 inmates were killed in a prison riot in northern Brazil on Monday as rival gang factions fought each other.

Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country’s severely overpopulated and deadly prison system in as many months.

Fighting broke out in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center. Two guards were taken hostage during the clashes that ended at around midday. They were eventually freed.

In May, at least 55 prisoners were killed in several jails in the neighboring state of Amazonas in violence also blamed on an apparent gang dispute.