Venezuela: 68 dead in police station fire

Blaze reportedly started after rioting prisoners set fire to mattresses in attempted breakout

Venezuela protests
Demonstrators behind a Venezuelan flag during anti-government protests in capital Caracas
(Image credit: Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images)

At least 68 people were killed when a fire swept through a police station in the central Venezuelan city of Valencia yesterday, prosecutors have confirmed.

The blaze is believed to have been started by rioting prisoners who set fire to mattresses in an attempt to break out of their holding cells, officials said.

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