14 dead in attack on jail in northern Mexico

Ten guards and four inmates were killed Sunday when gunmen in armored vehicles attacked a state prison in Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas, according to state officials.

At about 7 a.m., several armored vehicles arrived at the jail and gunmen opened fire on the guards, the Chihuahua prosecutor’s office said. In addition to the deceased, another 13 people were injured and at least 24 inmates escaped.

Mexican soldiers and state police regained control of the jail hours later. The state attorney’s office said its staff were investigating the incident.

In August, a riot inside the same jail spread to the streets of Ciudad Juarez, leaving 11 people dead.

On that occasion, two inmates were murdered inside the prison and later suspected gang members began shelling the city, killing four employees of a radio station who were doing a promotion at a restaurant.

Violent acts are frequent in Mexican prisons, even in some where the authorities have only nominal control. Clashes often occur between inmates of rival gangs, which in places like Ciudad Juarez act as factions of drug cartels.

Shortly after Sunday’s attack on the jail, municipal police came under fire but managed to capture four men after a chase, according to the statement from the state prosecutor’s office. Hours later, police killed two suspected gunmen who were driving a pickup truck.