Riots during an attempted escape from the La Modelo prison of Colombia leaves 23 inmates dead, 90 wounded
The rioting that swept through a crowded prison overnight in the Colombian capital Bogota left 23 inmates dead and 90 wounded, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said on Sunday.
The riot was triggered by an attempted mass breakout from La Modelo prison, Cabello said, as the capital was on a weekend lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.Riots occurred "in several penitentiary centres in the country," Cabello said in a statement. "The result of the attempted escape in the Modelo was 23 inmates dead."
La Modelo is Bogota's second-largest prison after La Picota, where protests also erupted on Saturday night. According to Cabello, 83 inmates and seven guards were injured in the disturbances inside La Modelo. Around half the injured prisoners were hospitalized, and two of the guards were in "critical condition."The head of Colombia's prison authorities, General Norberto Mujica, said his forces had taken back full control of the prison."Our guards prevented the escape from being carried out.
The government rejected accusations that the riots were sparked by unsanitary conditions inside a prison system unprepared to face the coronavirus pandemic."Today there is not a single infection, and no prisoners, nor administration or custodial officials, that have the coronavirus."
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2 Sri Lanka inmates killed in riot over virus restrictionsInmates in a Sri Lanka prison scuffle with guards and some try to escape during a protest against new strict measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, leaving two dead and six wounded, police say.
Read more »
Billabong x Sincerely Jules Collab Whisks You Away to South AmericaShop the rich colors and bold prints in this influencer collab inspired by Cartagena, Colombia!
Read more »
Colombia to hold 19-day quarantine to fight coronavirusColombia will enter a nationwide quarantine from Tuesday night, President Ivan D...
Read more »
NJ gov. urges people to take coronavirus seriously, 'no time for business as usual'New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: “I think the flattening of the curve, the social distancing, telling everybody just stay home gives us a real shot to keep the numbers down, to keep the pressure lesser than it otherwise would be on our health care system.”
Read more »
This Week in TV: 'One Day at a Time,' 'Ozark,' 'This Is Us' FinaleFrom OneDayAtATime being resurrected on Pop TV to Stumptown's season finale, here's what to watch this week on TV
Read more »
Jennifer Lopez Celebrates Selena Quintanilla 23 Years After Portraying Late Icon in BiopicJennifer Lopez earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 biopic Selena
Read more »