Seven killed in Mexican police operation to recapture escaped prisoners

Seven people have lost their lives during an operation by Mexican police to recapture escaped prisoners in the northern border state of Chihuahua.

Authorities announced the tragedy on Monday (2 January), which began when gunmen attacked the Cereso state prison in Ciudad Juarez, allowing for the escape of around 25 prisoners, including a gang leader.

CBS News reported that the incident took place on Sunday (1 January) in a bid to free the gang leader, who was from the local area.

According to The El Paso Times, armed gunmen arrived at the prison in bulletproof vehicles early on New Year's Day and opened fire.

Alamy / REUTERS

The shootout left around 17 people dead, including two agents and five alleged prisoners who were killed amid the recapture operation, the Chihuahua Public Security Department revealed.

Security secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez added that 10 prison guards who were attacked by the gunmen on Sunday were among the deceased.

According to local media, riots erupted within the prison itself when control was lost, which saw inmates clash with guards and set fire to objects.

The incident led to chaotic scenes as relatives of prisoners had arrived at the facility for New Years' visits when the shootout and recapture operation took place.

This is not the first scene of mass deadly violence at the prison, and CBS News reports that a similar episode in 2009 left 20 people dead.

Rodriguez said that the inmates who escaped were reportedly members of the Mexicles gang, which she associated with the Caborca Cartel.

Its leader, Rafael Caro Quintero, was recaptured in July of 2022 after being convicted of the 1985 murder of an American DEA agent.

He had been on the run for over a decade after escaping prison and returning to drug trafficking.

Alamy / Sipa US

Authorities managed to regain control of the prison later on Sunday (1 January), and an investigation is currently underway.

A statement from the state prosecutor's office said that police had been attacked prior to Sunday's events, but managed to capture four men after a pursuit.

This was not the first riot at the prison in recent memory, and in August, a riot that broke out spread to the streets, claiming the lives of 11 people, the New York Post reported.

According to PBS, two inmates died during these riots before the shooting spread into civilian areas.

Four members of a radio station also lost their lives after they were caught in the violence as they were doing a promotional event at a restaurant.