The violence took place in Bellavista prison, located about 80 km west of Quito, the country’s capital.
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A scene of chaos. About forty prisoners died in clashes between rival gangs on Monday, May 9, in the prison of Bellavista, in Ecuador, west of Quito. According to the latest report from the Ministry of the Interior, 44 detainees died and ten were injured.
The Ecuadorian police chief describes a scene with “the attackers acted with great cruelty”. On the spot, wounded with facial wounds were taken care of by ambulances and relatives of detainees crowded around the penitentiary center to try to obtain information, according to AFP.
An overcrowded prison
A hundred detainees are said to have managed to escape thanks to the violence. According to the authorities, 112 prisoners were able to be “recaptured”but 108 were still “missing worn”. With a capacity of 1,200 places, the Bellavista prison currently accommodates 1,700 prisoners.
According to the chief of police, “250 police, 200 soldiers and additional reinforcements are on the way”. On Twitter, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said the clashes were “the regrettable result of gang violence”.
Mi más sentido pésame a los familiares y seres queridos de los fallecidos en el amotinamiento en la cárcel de Sto. Domingo. This is a lamentable result of violence between bands. Minister of the Interior @CarrilloRosero está a cargo de los operatives para recuperar la paz.
— Guillermo Lasso (@LassoGuillermo) May 9, 2022
The Head of State also addressed his “sincere condolences to the families” dead prisoners.