Brazil: at least 60 killed in prison riot

The head of security for the state of Amazonas, Sérgio Fontes, confirmed the death of at least 60 prisoners who served their time at the Anísio Jobim prison complex (COMPAJ) in Manaus, the state capital.

The inmates were killed during a prison riot that began Sunday (Jan. 1) afternoon and ended in the early hours of Monday (Jan. 2), lasting over 17 hours.

According to some information, the massacre was caused by a war between rival drug gangs over power dispute in the Amazon region: one is called North Family (FDN), which is based in Brazil's north, and the São Paulo-based First Command of the Capital drug gang, known as PCC. Together with the Rio de Janeiro-based Red Command (CV) drug gang, the FDN has the control over drug trade and over the prison units of the Amazon.

Since the second half of 2015, leaders of the FDN gang have been singled out as the main suspects for the death of members of the PCC, which is based largely in São Paulo but it is already active in almost all the units of the federation.

Smoke screen

According to the secretary, the state alone cannot control a situation like this. Prison guards of the outsourced company Umanizzare and 74 prisoners were taken hostage. Some of these inmates were murdered and at least six of them were beheaded. Bodies were thrown over the prison walls.

A few hours before the riot at the Compaj rebellion, dozens of inmates had escaped from another prison unit in Manaus, the Antônio Trindade Institute (IPAT). The secretary told reporters that the IPAT's escape may have served as a "smokescreen" to disguise authorities from the action at COMPAJ.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta