Officer slain in Brazil jail riot, 20 held hostage

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By Reuters

Published: 12/03/2003

One prison officer was killed, two were wounded and about 20 people held hostage at a Rio prison on Tuesday by a group of inmates who rebelled after a thwarted escape attempt, Brazilian authorities said.
On Tuesday night, about 12 hours after the hostages were taken, police said they had suspended talks with the rebel inmates at the Bangu 3 maximum security prison until Wednesday after cutting off the electricity and water in a bid to force the release.
Asterio Pereira, the state prison administration secretary, told reporters the riot started after inmates overcame armed officers in a bid to escape while they were being transferred to give evidence in court.
A gunfight ensued in which the officer was shot. He later died in a hospital. Two other officers were injured.
Rio state security secretary Anthony Garotinho told reporters that the hostages included teachers, doctors and others working inside the facility. Pereira said visiting relatives of the inmates were also being held hostage.
Police have sealed off the prison, which holds about 781 inmates and has room for 896 prisoners.
Although jail riots are common in Brazil, where prison conditions are notoriously bad, the killing of officers is rare.
Authorities had said earlier that the inmates complained of ill-treatment and demanded better conditions.
Riots tend to take place after thwarted escape attempts or are staged by inmates to create a smoke-screen so criminal factions can carry out vendettas or settle scores with rivals.
In September 2002, drug barons used a rebellion in Bangu to slaughter rivals inside the jail and the violence later splashed into the city streets, where drug gangs shut businesses and attacked police posts and even tourist spots.

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