Mexico prison riot leaves 7 policemen dead

At least seven police officers were killed on Saturday evening in a prison riot in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, the government said on Sunday.

In a statement, the federal government said that violence broke out at 10 p.m. on Saturday at the prison of La Toma, with around 1,300 prisoners demanding the resignation of the prison director and the chief guard.

Officers from the Veracruz riot police entered the prison to try and bring events under control but they were met with a fire sparked by prisoners setting fire to pillows.

They were also attacked by inmates wielding tools although a report by the Veracruz attorney-general said that the victims had died of asphyxiation.

At least ten prisoners were injured in the operation.

On Sunday morning, the riot was brought under control. Government security forces surrounded the prison and prevented families of the prisoners from entering.