At least 60 killed in Brazil prison riot

A prison riot over the weekend in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus left at least 60 inmates dead, officials said Monday. The riot started Sunday afternoon when fighting broke out between two rival drug gangs, and ended nearly nearly 17 hours later on Monday morning.

The region's head of security Sergio Fontes called it "the biggest prison massacre in our state's history," noting that many "were decapitated, and they all suffered a lot of violence." Several prison guards were held hostage, and as many as 130 prisoners reportedly escaped.

Fontes said the inmates made few demands, suggesting the purpose of the riot was to "kill members of the rival organization." The gangs, Familia do Norte and First Capital Command, have been fighting for control over the cocaine trade in Brazil's Amazon region.

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