A violent riot among inmates at the Castillo prison, located in Mazatlán, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, has resulted in the death of at least ten people and left 16 injured, according to a statement from the Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat. Among the deceased is a minor who was visiting family inside the prison at the time of the incident.
According to the information released by the Secretariat, the 16 injured have been transferred to receive pre-hospital medical attention. The Mexican newspaper "El Universal" has reported that the injured left the prison in ten ambulances escorted by federal forces. Gunfire triggered alerts outside, prompting the entry of the State Preventive Police and the specialized prison inspection unit of the National Guard, with the support of a Navy helicopter conducting aerial surveillance.
State authorities have indicated that the inter-institutional group deployed has managed to control the situation and that the prison is currently under control with a permanent presence of law enforcement. Outside the facility, elements of the Army and the National Guard have reinforced perimeter security. Meanwhile, the relatives of the inmates who approached the site after hearing the gunfire have demanded information from the guards and management, according to the aforementioned newspaper.
The Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat has notified the State Attorney General's Office, which will be responsible for conducting investigations to clarify what happened and determine the corresponding responsibilities. Additionally, social work personnel have initiated contact with the families of the deceased to convey pertinent information. As a precautionary measure, visits to the Castillo prison have been suspended until further notice, although authorities have emphasized that the rest of the inmate population is in good condition.