Violent riots kill more than 60 in three prisons in Ecuador

QUITO.- A bloody riot in three prisons in Ecuador left more than 60 dead on Tuesday in clashes between rival gangs, in a dispute over leadership in prisons.

The director of the prison service, Edmundo Moncayo, told a press conference that there had been around 62 deaths after the clashes, all inmates, although unofficial figures represented at least 67.

The official explained that the events were caused by two groups who sought criminal leadership inside the prisons and that the victims were from different groups. There were no deaths among the police, although they were injured, but the number was not specified.

Acts of violence were recorded in prisons located in the provinces of Guayas, Azuay and Cotopaxi, which represent around 70% of the prison population in the country. Some 800 police officers were mobilized to regain control.

Moncayo explained that the fact that the incidents occurred almost simultaneously would suggest that these were previously planned acts, but he did not elaborate. Extremely dangerous criminals, including drug traffickers, murderers, gangsters and others who have committed all kinds of crimes are held in these three centers.

“What happened today is that two groups are trying to find criminal leaders in the detention centers,” Moncayo said. “We had the support of 800 police officers who helped to control and restore order in the centers,” he added.

In recent years, in Ecuadorian prisons, designed for some 27,000 people but occupied by 38,000 inmates, riots have been recorded at a relative frequency that have ended in the killing of other inmates.

“Following the violent riots that broke out today between criminal gangs in three prisons in the country, I ordered the Ministry of Defense to exercise strict control of weapons, ammunition and explosives in the outer perimeters of the prisons President Lenín Moreno said on Twitter.

AP, AFP and Reuters agencies

THE NATION

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