Background on the Incident
The Veracruz government confirmed the deaths of eight inmates and injuries to ten others following a riot at the Tuxpan Corrective Facility on Saturday. The disturbance lasted over 16 hours and was initiated by inmates protesting alleged extortion by a group called “La Sombra” operating within the prison.
Details of the Riot
According to Alfonso Reyes Garcés, Secretary of Public Security in Veracruz, the riot began around 5:00 PM on Saturday when a group of detainees took control of certain areas within the facility and started fires inside. This resulted in seven immediate fatalities and eleven injuries, with ten of the injured being transferred to various hospitals. Tragically, one of the hospitalized individuals succumbed to their injuries on Sunday.
Government Response and Current Status
By Sunday morning, a coordinated operation was conducted at the Tuxpan prison, successfully restoring complete order and regaining control of the facilities following Saturday’s disturbances.
Broader Context: Rising Prison Violence in Mexico
This incident is part of a growing trend of violence within Mexican prisons. Since January, there have been 17 inmate homicides linked to riots across the country. Between January and June, there were 194 fights involving 809 inmates, resulting in 131 injuries and nine homicides.
- February 2022: Seven prisoners died during altercations, with fatalities reported in Tabasco.
- April 2022: The number of riots increased, involving 80 inmates and leaving 17 injured without any fatalities.
- May 2022: There were 31 riots with 306 inmates involved, resulting in 22 injuries but no deaths.
- June 2022: The most recent month, with 39 riots (a 26% increase from May) involving 108 inmates and leaving 24 injured.
Key Questions and Answers
- What sparked the Tuxpan prison riot? The riot was initiated by inmates protesting alleged extortion by a group called “La Sombra” operating within the prison.
- How many people were killed and injured in the Tuxpan riot? Eight inmates were killed, and ten were injured.
- What is the broader context of prison violence in Mexico? There has been a rise in prison violence, with 17 inmate homicides linked to riots since January and 194 fights involving 809 inmates between January and June, resulting in 131 injuries and nine homicides.
