Prison riots leave 31 dead
Inmates from rival gangs clashed in three Guatemalan prisons last Monday, leaving at least 31 prisoners dead before police restored order, the country’s Interior Minister, Carlos Vielman said. Many of the prisoners were from the country’s largest street gang, Mara Salvatrucha, which has spread throughout Central America and parts of the United States. Some prisoners had obtained weapons ranging from knives to AK-47 assault rifles. One police officer was wounded trying to put down the riots. The riots broke out at the Pavon Prison in Guatemala City and two others in southern Guatemala, Granja Pino Canada and El Hoyon. Prisoners had been complaining that gang members were being dispersed to facilities around the country.
