MEXICO CITY — A violent riot erupted in a southern Mexican prison, resulting in the deaths of seven inmates as they clashed with police during a transfer operation, according to officials. The incident took place in Villahermosa, the capital city of Tabasco, and saw four law enforcement officers along with six other inmates sustaining injuries during the chaos.

State police chief Víctor Hugo Chávez reported that early Thursday, as police attempted to transfer two high-risk inmates to a federal prison, they encountered fierce resistance. The inmates defended themselves with firearms and knives, creating a deadly standoff that lasted for approximately three hours, during which one inmate wielding a gun was sheltered by around 20 fellow prisoners.

While Chávez did not confirm whether the police returned fire, he stated, “Authorities have to act to defend their own lives, too.” During the upheaval, multiple fires ignited within the prison, prompting a horde of frantic relatives to gather outside, anxiously seeking updates about their incarcerated loved ones.

After several hours of intense confrontation, security forces were able to reestablish order in the facility. Upon regaining control, authorities discovered a significant cache of weapons, including an assault rifle, five handguns, a hand grenade, 23 machetes, 14 knives, and 23 makeshift shivs. The means by which these weapons were smuggled into the prison were not disclosed, highlighting ongoing issues with security and corruption in Mexican jails, where drug gangs often exert significant influence and control over their environments, sometimes extorting fellow inmates for protection.

In the wake of the riot, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that an investigation would be launched to examine potential collusion and assess whether the police operation was carried out appropriately, particularly concerning the presence of weapons within the facility.