Mexico Prison Riot leaves 52 people dead 

Mexico prison riot leaves 52 people dead as rival drugs gangs torch Monterrey jail A PRISON riot in Monterrey, Mexico has left dozens of people killed as rival drugs gang torch the North Eastern jail. Fifty-two people were killed and twelve people were wounded in a prison riot in Monterrey in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, governor Jaime Rodriguez said in a news conference on Thursday. The prison brawl happened between rival drug gangs, days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to another jail in Mexico’s far north. Prison director, Gregoria Salazar, told relatives that there was fighting in two areas of the prison and that inmates had burnt mattresses and a food-storage area. She said the death toll was still being investigated. The incident was one of the worst in a series of deadly riots in recent years to rock the country’s overpopulated prisons, which often house inmates from different drug cartels. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly riots in recent years to rock the country’s overpopulated prisons, which often house inmates from different drug gangs. The Nuevo Leon state government said on Twitter the situation had been brought under control and ruled out a prison break but gave no details on what had happened. Relatives of the prisoners have gathered outside the prison. One woman said: “I want to know that my daughter is okay. She is in the infirmary. There are children in there.” Nuevo Leon state Governor Jamie Rodriguez has said that fighting broke out before midnight in two areas of the Topo Chico prison between a faction of the brutal Zetas gang and another group. Mr Rodriguez said: “During the clash several prisoners set fire to the food storage and sleeping areas.” The situation was brought under control at around 1.30am Mexican time on Thursday morning. Mr Rodriguez also said: “The incident is extrmely painful and terrible for all of us in the state of Nuevo Leon.”