Brazil: decapitated bodies tossed over wall as dozens die in prison drug gang turf war

Around 60 people have been killed in a prison riot in Brazil.<br /><br /> The fighting was sparked by a war between rival drug gangs in the Amazon jungle city of Manaus.<br /><br /> Officials say the death toll could rise as authorities get a clearer idea of the scale of the rebellion.<br /><br /> BRAZIL PRISON – Dozens reported killed in prison riot in Brazil https://t.co/NfjEYgPi7W— WORLD NEWS (@WorldNews7777) January 2, 2017<br /><br /> What happened?<br /><br /> The riot began late on Sunday.<br /><br /> A group of inmates exchanged gunfire with police and held 12 prison guards hostage late on Sunday in the prison.<br /><br /> It is the largest in Manaus, an industrial city on the banks of the Amazon River.<br /><br /> 74 prisoners were reportedly taken hostage during the riot. Some were executed and some released.<br /><br /> The riot was brought under control by 7 am on Monday.<br /><br /> The authorities are still counting the prisoners to determine how many have escaped.<br /><br /> Decapitated bodies “thrown over wall”<br /><br /> Video footage is said to show dozens of bloodied and mutilated bodies piled on top of one another on the prison floor.<br /><br /> The Manaus’ Em Tempo newspaper reports that the decapitated bodies of several of the dead were thrown over the prison perimeter wall.<br /><br /> Dozens killed in gang violence at Brazilian jail https://t.co/6upuDTFlTo— Guardian World (@guardianworld) January 2, 2017<br /><br /> Turf wars<br /><br /> The prison massacre was the latest clash between inmates aligned with Brazil’s most powerful drug gang, the Sao Paulo-based First Capital Command (PCC) and a local Manaus crime group known as the North Family (CV).<br /><br /> Security analysts say a truce that held for years between the PCC and CV broke down last year.<br /><br /> This resulted in months of deadly prison battles between gangs.<br /><br /> Brazil’s overcrowded prisons<br /><br /> International watchdog groups sharply criticise Brazil for its prison system. <br /><br /> Conditions in many of the country’s institutions are described as “horrific”, with overcrowding said to be the norm and where riots routinely break out.<br /><br /> Sunday’s riot was the deadliest in years.<br /><br /> 111 inmates died in a 1992 rebellion at the Carandiru prison in Sao Paulo state. Nearly all were killed by police as they stormed the jail.<br /><br /> Brazil’s prisons – Euronews fact check<br /><br /> In its latest World Report, the campaign group Human Rights Watch found:<br /><br /> Brazil’s prisons hold more than 600,000 people<br /><br /> This exceeds the intended capacity by 61%<br /><br /> Overcrowding and understaffing mean control is very difficult to ensure<br /><br /> Experts say inmates are left vulnerable to violence and gang activity<br />