14 dead when gunmen in armored vehicles attack Mexican prison

MEXICO CITY — Ten guards and four inmates were killed Sunday when gunmen in armored vehicles attacked a state prison in Ciudad Juarez across the border from El Paso, Texas, officials say. the state.

The Chihuahua State Attorney’s Office said in a statement that around 7 a.m. (8 a.m. ET), various armored vehicles arrived at the jail and gunmen opened fire on the guards. In addition to those killed, 13 people were injured and at least 24 inmates escaped.

Mexican soldiers and state police regained control of the prison later Sunday. The district attorney’s office said its staff are investigating.

In August, a riot inside the same state prison spilled onto the streets of Juarez in violence that left 11 people dead.

In this case, two inmates were killed inside the prison, then suspected gang members began shooting in the city, including killing four employees of a radio station who were promoting in a restaurant .

Violence is common in Mexican prisons, including some where authorities exercise only nominal control. Clashes regularly break out between inmates of rival gangs, who in places like Juarez serve as proxies for drug cartels.

Shortly before Sunday’s attack on the prison, municipal police were attacked and managed to capture four men after a chase, according to the statement from the public prosecutor’s office. Later, police killed two suspected gunmen traveling in an SUV.