In a high-security prison in northern Brazil, a 24-hour riot resulted in the death of five inmates, according to Brazilian authorities.
The riot erupted at Antonio Amaro prison in the capital city of Acre state, Rio Branco, on Wednesday morning and continued until 7 a.m. on Thursday, when the inmates surrendered after hours of negotiations, as stated by the state government.
During the rebellion, 13 inmates attempted to escape, but guards foiled their plan. Subsequently, the prisoners held a prison officer and a cleaning staff member as hostages, as revealed in the government’s statement.
The government report further revealed that five inmates lost their lives during the riot, while a police officer and two prisoners were wounded by gunfire.
A significant quantity of weapons was seized from the rebellious inmates, with the police confiscating 15 firearms of varying calibers after the rioters surrendered.
The Minister of Justice and Public Security in Acre state stated, “A thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the circumstances, and we will strive to rectify the errors that occurred within the prison.”
The operation to quell the riot required the deployment of 200 police officers, including special forces and reinforcements sent by the federal government.
Brazilian prisons, notorious for overcrowding and severe staff shortages, have witnessed numerous deadly riots in recent years.
As of December 2022, the inmate population in the largest country in Latin America had reached 643,137 prisoners, according to data from the National Secretariat of Criminal Policy.
