Deadly prison riot in Mexico leaves seven inmates dead, eleven injured

A violent riot at the Tuxpan Social Reintegration Centre in Veracruz, Mexico, has left at least seven inmates dead and eleven others injured, exposing once again the deep influence of organised crime inside the country’s prisons.

The unrest began as a protest by prisoners against alleged extortion and assaults carried out by members of the criminal group known as “Sombra,” which had reportedly seized control of several areas of the facility, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The chaos spiralled into a bloody confrontation that lasted more than 12 hours.

Order was eventually restored after a joint security operation involving the Mexican Army, the National Guard, and state police forces stormed the prison to regain control.

A broader crisis in Mexico’s prisons

This latest outbreak of violence underscores the severe crisis gripping Mexico’s penitentiary system. In 2023 alone, the country recorded 3,094 violent incidents in prisons – an increase of 18.5% compared with the previous year – leaving 100 people dead and nearly 900 injured.

While Mexico has seen a slight 1.6% decline in the national homicide rate during the first half of 2025, violence behind bars remains one of the country’s most pressing public security challenges.

Experts warn that such incidents are not isolated brawls between inmates, but symptoms of entrenched structural problems that demand comprehensive reform.

Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the riot and to identify those responsible.

By Aghakazim Guliyev