Tuesday, August 27, 2013

PALMASOLA PRISON FLAMING RIOT

18-month-old toddler was among the 31 killed in Columbia prison riot

A fight between rival gangs inside the Palmasola Prison near Santa Cruz, Bolivia on Friday left 31 dead, including an 18-month-old toddler. Another 37 inmates were seriously injured before authorities were able to restore order in Bolivia’s largest penal institution.

The riot started after inmates in one cellblock knocked a hole in the wall to get at rival gang members in another cellblock. Most of those killed were burned to death because inmates blew up two propane tanks and were able to use others as flamethrowers. Fire spread quickly through the prison because it uses straw mattresses.

The toddler was among the victims because under Bolivian law, children can stay with their parents in prison until they are six years old if there is no one else to take care of them.

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