Five-hour riot at Altamira prison in Brazil leaves 52 prisoners dead, with at least 16 decapitated
Brazil has the world's third-largest prison population - 704,000.
However, there is only cell space for just under 416,000, leading to severe overcrowding, inhumane conditions and regular riots.Fifteen prisoners were found dead at one prison, many strangled and stabbed with sharpened toothbrushes. Another 40 bodies were found at another prison a day later, the victims reportedly dying from asphyxiation.
In January 2017, nearly 150 prisoners died during three weeks of violence across several prisons as gangs backed by Brazil's two largest drug factions attacked one another.Prison officers in Brazil are often severely outnumbered and many criminal gangs are able to run much of their day-to-day business from prisons.
Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro has vowed to regain control of the country's prisons as well as building additional ones but most jails are run by states and have been overcrowded and out of control for decades.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
At least 52 dead in Brazil prison massacre as 16 inmates are BEHEADED and dozens more burned alive locked in roomMORE than 52 inmates and prison staff have been killed in a massive riot in a jail in northern Brazil. According to reports 16 victims were beheaded and dozens more burned alive at Altamira Regiona…
Read more »
Riot police fire tear gas at protesters in Hong KongHuge crowds made their way through Hong Kong's streets in a now-familiar scene, but Sunday's marches had a key difference - police had banned them.
Read more »
Indigenous man killed as Brazil miners take landMembers of a remote village have fled and there are fears of further violence.
Read more »
Sunbathing tourists panic after wave catches them off guard in BrazilDozens of people can be heard screaming as a wave catches them off guard at a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although lasting less than a minute chairs and belongings are washed into the sea.
Read more »
Sunbathing tourists panic after wave catches them off guard in BrazilDozens of people can be heard screaming as a wave catches them off guard at a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although lasting less than a minute chairs and belongings are washed into the sea.
Read more »