MEXICO CITY – At least 28 inmates have been killed during a fight between rival gangs in a prison in south-western Mexico on Friday morning.
The Acapulco governor has ordered an investigation into the pre-dawn fight which broke out in the maximum security wing of Las Cruces prison, with more than 2,000 inmates. The victims were stabbed and beaten to death, with some decapitated.
Acapulco is the largest city in Guerrero state, one of Mexico’s most violent areas and a big center for drug production.
Bodies were discovered throughout the unit, including inside the kitchen and in an area for conjugal visits, said Roberto Álvarez, a state security spokesman.
There were no signs that weapons were used, he added. The investigation would also focus on the prison staff.
Acapulco used to be one of Mexico’s most popular tourist spots, but has seen a rise in violence as criminal gangs fight for control over illegal activities. It has become one of the country’s deadliest cities.
From December 2006 until May this year, there were 188,567 murders, according to government records.
