Officials say 57 dead in Brazil prison riot; 16 decapitated

A police helicopter flies over the Regional Recovery Center, a prison, in Altamira, Para state, Brazil, Monday, July 29, 2019. Authorities say at least 52 prisoners were killed by other inmates during a riot, and that some of the victims were decapitated while others asphyxiated. (Wilson Soares/Panamazonica via AP) A police helicopter flies over the Regional Recovery Center, a prison, in Altamira, Para state, Brazil, Monday, July 29, 2019. Authorities say at least 52 prisoners were killed by other inmates during a riot, and that some of the victims were decapitated while others asphyxiated. (Wilson Soares/Panamazonica via AP)

By Associated Press July 30, 2019 3 min read

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – At least 57 prisoners were killed by other inmates during clashes between organized crime groups in the Altamira prison in northern Brazil Monday with 16 of the victims being decapitated, according to prison officials.

Para state prison authorities said a fight erupted around 7 a.m. between the Rio de Janeiro-based Comando Vermelho and a local criminal group known as Comando Classe A.

“Leaders of the (Comando Classe A) set fire to a cell belonging to one of the prison’s pavilions, where members of the (Comando Vermelho) were located,” the statement read.

State prisons chief Jarbas Vasconcelos said the fire had spread rapidly with inmates held in old container units that had been adapted for the prison while another building is under construction.

The fire prevented police forces from entering the building for several hours, he told a news conference.