56 inmates injured in Mexican prison riot for extortion – Orange County Register

MEXICO CITY (AP) – A riot broke out inside a prison in northern Mexico as inmates tried to blackmail others, and 56 inmates have been tried, authorities said Saturday.

Officials said the riots began Friday at the Apodaca prison, just outside the city of Monterrey.

Aldo Fasci, public safety secretary for Nuevo Leon state, said the injuries were all from beatings and no firearms were involved.

Fasci said: “There is no gun, all injuries are from blows, Head injuries are from blunt objects, rocks or in some cases from (smashing) the floor.

He said many inmates at the prison work in industrial plants and are usually paid on Fridays. He said there are at least five gangs that are blackmailing other inmates inside the prison’s walls.

Authorities acknowledged that inmates had partial control of the facility.

“We have to keep working to get rid of the common law,” Fasci said.

He said a raid after the situation was brought under control found cell phones, beer and banned drugs among the inmates’ possessions.