Brazil prisoners clash with police where 26 inmates were butchered
BRAZIL - Brazilian police used rubber bullets and tear gas on Tuesday to break up a renewed clash between drug gangs in a prison where 26 inmates were butchered by rivals in recent days.
Major Eduardo Franco, spokesman for police in the state of Rio Grande do Norte where the Alcaçuz prison is located, 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 Januari 1. At least 140 inmates have been killed in the intense violence. President Michel Temer’s office said the federal government decided on Tuesday to allow Army troops to reinforce security at state prisons if governors made requests. As of late Tuesday afternoon, 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 entering the facilities. They would avoid any sort of longer-term occupation of penitentiaries. Security officials said members of Brazil’s most powerful drug gang, the First Capital Command (PCC), who last Saturday started a riot in Alcaçuz and murdered 26 members of a rival gang, many of whom they beheaded, tried to invade their enemies’ prison wing again early Tuesday afternoon. Images broadcast live on Globo TV showed prisoners from both the PCC and the local gang “Crime Union of RN” - RN being the Portuguese initials for Rio Grande do Norte state - atop the roofs of their respective wings, waving banners with gang insignia and wielding knives, clubs and other homemade weapons. (Reuters.com)