Prison clash in Sinaloa state results in 10 fatalities

Ten people have been killed and 16 others injured during a fight at the El Castillo Penitentiary Centre in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, according to local authorities. The Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat reported that the deceased included nine inmates and one family visitor. Sinaloa’s Secretary of Public Security, Sinuhe Tellez, stated in a video on social media that the visitor was a minor. The 16 injured inmates were transported for medical care, as noted by the secretariat. An inter-institutional group of security forces responded, and the prison is now reported to be 'under control,' with authorities remaining on-site. Tellez mentioned that social work staff are reaching out to the families of the deceased and that prison visits have been suspended as a precaution, ensuring the safety of the remaining inmates. Sinaloa has been a site of conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel and is among six Mexican states that the US State Department advises Americans against visiting due to security issues. Officials have not confirmed if the prison violence is connected to the ongoing cartel conflict.