Attack on Prison Kills 1 in Mexico
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SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico — Masked men with guns attacked a prison in southern Mexico, leading to a mass prison break and riot in which at least one person was killed, officials said Friday.
Chiapas state Atty. Gen. Eduardo Montoya said 44 of the prison’s 239 inmates fled the facility, 10 miles east of San Cristobal de las Casas, on Thursday night. Two were recaptured.
A 5-month-old child, whose mother was visiting her imprisoned husband, died after being crushed during the riot. Two guards were injured.
Montoya told Mexico City’s Reforma newspaper that authorities suspected the attackers were Maya Indians from the nearby Chamula district’s evangelical community and wanted to free two of their jailed members.
However, officials said none of the Protestants from the Chamula district were among the escapees.
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