Ferocious Guatemalan Prison Riot Leaves 18 Inmates Dead

Rioting inmates at a jail outside Guatemala’s capital decapitated a fellow prisoner and burned 14 others to death, authorities said. In all, 18 inmates died during two days of unrest.

At least 30 others were seriously injured when hundreds of inmates began rioting to demand more visiting rights and the dismissal of guards, authorities said.

Maximum-security prisoners first staged a small uprising late Monday, seizing part of the 1,228-inmate Pavoncito prison. One prisoner was killed.

A group of prisoners later captured Julio Beteta, an inmate who police say controlled drug and weapons distribution within the prison. Inmates used makeshift knives and machetes to decapitate Beteta, said Emilio Najera, a fire department spokesman.

The decapitation touched off a bloody battle between several inmate factions, and prisoners began using machetes to seize control of different parts of the prison.

Members of one gang rounded up 14 prisoners from another gang who were injured, doused them with gasoline and set them on fire, Najera said. All 14 died.

Police in riot gear then stormed the prison and restored order early Tuesday. Police Director Raul Manchame said no prisoners escaped during the uprising.

Two inmates injured during clashes with police died at a hospital after authorities ended the riot.