Mass breakout from Sao Paulo psychiatric prison

By Euronews

Published on 18/10/2016 - 07:37

Prisoners still on the loose following escape from Sao Paulo psychiatric prison

A third prison riot since Sunday night in Brazil has led to a mass escape of inmates.

Fifty-five prisoners in Sao Paulo’s Franco da Rocha psychiatric ward escaped after starting a fire which burned down a wing of the prison. Despite a huge manhunt in the city’s suburb involving helicopters police were only able to recapture 18 of them.

The unrest followed riots in prisons between rival gangs in Roraima, where about 100 hostages were taken and Porto Velho that police say may be linked. At least 18 people were killed either by smoke asphyxiation or execution, but all the hostages were freed.

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