MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At least 17 people were killed in a prison fight in Guatemala, a prison system spokesman said.
"All the dead are prisoners, we have ruled out any guards among the dead," Rudy Esquivel said Monday, as quoted by the BBC.
According to the British broadcaster, the fight broke out Sunday night. The military had to be deployed at the site, with as many as 2,300 prisoners fighting against the security forces. Several inmates had guns on them.
It is not clear what the cause of the event was, but it is possible that prisoners reacted violently to guards foiling an escape plan, according to the BBC.
The facility houses over 3,000 inmates, even though it is only designed to hold 600.
Prison fights are frequent in Guatemala. In September, 20 people were left injured in a prison fight.