Police avert another prison massacre

BRAZIL: Brazilian police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a renewed clash between drug gangs yesterday at Alcacuz prison where 26 inmates were butchered by rivals recently.

Major Eduardo Franco, spokesman for the state police, said authorities managed to keep the rival gangs apart and so far prevent another massacre.

Brazil has been hit by a wave of deadly gang clashes in prisons in the north and northeast regions of the country since January 1. At least 140 inmates have been killed in the intense violence.

President Michel Temer’s office said the federal government decided yesterday to allow army troops to reinforce security at state prisons if governors requested it. As of yesterday, no governors had requested such help.

The soldiers would be limited to inspecting the prisons and confiscating weapons, drugs and other contraband, along with searching visitors. They would avoid any longer-term occupation of the prisons.

Security officials said members of Brazil’s most powerful drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), who last Sunday started a riot in Alcac¸uz and murdered 26 members of a rival gang, many of whom they beheaded, tried to invade their enemies’ prison wing again yesterday.

Images broadcast live on Globo TV showed prisoners from both the PCC and the local gang Crime Union of RN on the roofs of their respective wings, waving banners with gang insignia and wielding knives, clubs and other homemade weapons.

Scores of prisoners were seen running within the prison – clearly indicating officials did not have control. – Reuters