38 Reported Killed At Prison In Northern Mexico

Families gather outside a prison in northern Mexico after it was announced that scores were killed in a rebellion., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

38 killed in Mexican prison riot

By the CNN Wire Staff
6:21 PM EST, Sun February 19, 2012

Dozens of people gathered outside a prison in northern Mexico to find out if their family members were killed in a riot.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

--Some prisoners set mattresses ablaze, state security spokesman says
At least 38 people died in the riot, Domene says

--The security official says inmates took a guard hostage as clashes broke out

Monterrey, Mexico (CNN) -- At least 38 people died during a prison riot in northern Mexico on Sunday, a security official said.

Inmates took a guard hostage as clashes broke out early Sunday morning at a prison in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, state security spokesman Jorge Domene said.

Some prisoners also set mattresses ablaze, Domene said, sending a column of smoke rising above the facility.

Federal and state police had the situation under control later in the day, the state-run Notimex news agency said.

It was unclear what caused the clashes, which occurred in a part of the prison where most inmates were serving time for federal drug trafficking offenses.

Authorities had not indicated whether the dead were inmates or employees at the prison, or released details about how many people were injured in the fighting.

Dozens of people gathered outside the prison to find out whether their family members had died.

In May 2011, 14 inmates were killed and 35 people were injured in a fire in the prison's psychiatric ward.