Image copyright Reuters Image caption About 1,500 police officers and soldiers were deployed to Pavón prison

At least seven people have been killed in a shooting at a prison near the Guatemalan capital Guatemala City.

Some 1,500 soldiers and police officers were reportedly sent to the prison to try and stop the violence.

Another 20 people were injured in the gunfire, and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Officials say the incident was sparked by a fight between two inmates, one of whom was "in an alleged state of intoxication".

Pavón prison houses at least 4,000 inmates, despite originally being built for only 1,000 people in the 1970s.

Image copyright AFP Image caption Pavón, which is on the outskirts of Guatemala City, during the shooting

Inmates had control of the prison for about eight hours on Tuesday, officials told the Associated Press news agency.

"Security forces have already entered and have regained control of the centre," Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala's prison system, later told Reuters news agency.

He also told local media that the shooting started with "a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate".

In 2016, 14 people were killed in a riot that broke out in the same prison.</s>GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - At least seven people were killed and 17 injured after shooting broke out at a prison near Guatemala City on Tuesday, according to officials, who said that authorities have regained control at the prison.

“Security forces have already entered and have regained control of the center. Regarding the number of deceased inmates, there are seven confirmed. That is a preliminary number,” Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala’s prison system, said.

A spokesman for the volunteer firefighters, Mario Cruz, said eight people were killed and 17 injured. “So far we have already removed seven bodies and we are waiting for the last one,” Cruz said.

Camilo Gilberto Morales, director of Guatemala’s penitentiary system, said the gunfire in one part of the prison appeared to have stemmed from an altercation between inmates.

“According to preliminary information it was a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate,” he told local television channel TN23.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said officials were still gathering information about the incident.

The Pavon prison, some 10 miles (16 km) from the Guatemalan capital, houses more than 4,100 inmates, according to official data.

In 2016, a riot at the same prison left 14 people dead.</s>At least seven people have been killed in a shooting at a prison near the Guatemalan capital Guatemala City.

Some 1,500 soldiers and police officers were reportedly sent to the prison to try and stop the violence.

Another 20 people were injured in the gunfire, and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Officials say the incident was sparked by a fight between two inmates, one of whom was "in an alleged state of intoxication".

Pavón prison houses at least 4,000 inmates, despite originally being built for only 1,000 people in the 1970s.

Inmates had control of the prison for about eight hours on Tuesday, officials told the Associated Press news agency.

"Security forces have already entered and have regained control of the centre," Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala's prison system, later told Reuters news agency.
• Guatemala security: 'Those who can afford it buy protection'

He also told local media that the shooting started with "a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate".

In 2016, 14 people were killed in a riot that broke out in the same prison.</s>GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Three people were killed and at least ten injured when shooting broke out at a prison near Guatemala City on Tuesday, a local emergency services official said.

The ten who were wounded were transferred to a medical facility, said Eduardo Castillo, a spokesperson for volunteer firefighters. An interior ministry spokesman said officials were still gathering information about the incident.

The Pavon prison, some 10 miles (16 km) from the Guatemalan capital, houses more than 4,100 inmates, according to official data.

Local media reported that gunfire was continuing inside the prison, and that police were flying a drone overhead but had not yet taken control of the facility.

Camilo Gilberto Morales, director of Guatemala’s penitentiary system, said the gunfire in one part of the prison appeared to have stemmed from an altercation between inmates.

“According to preliminary information it was a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate,” he told local television channel TN23.

In 2016, a riot at the same prison left 14 people dead.</s>[BBC] At least seven people have been killed in a shooting at a prison near the Guatemalan capital Guatemala City.

Some 1,500 soldiers and police officers were reportedly sent to the prison to try and stop the violence.

Another 20 people were injured in the gunfire, and have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Officials say the incident was sparked by a fight between two inmates, one of whom was “in an alleged state of intoxication”.

Pavón prison houses at least 4,000 inmates, despite originally being built for only 1,000 people in the 1970s.</s>At least 3 dead, 10 wounded in Guatemala prison shooting

FRAIJANES, Guatemala (AP) — At least three people were killed and 10 people were wounded in a shooting inside a Guatemala prison Tuesday, authorities said.

The National Civil Police said the three dead were prisoners at the Pavon Rehabilitation Model Farm in the municipality of Fraijanes, about 10 miles (17 kilometers) east of Guatemala City.

Authorities had not regained control of the prison following a riot that began early Tuesday morning.

Cecilio Chacaj of the municipal firefighters said that 10 prisoners were transported to medical facilities with bullet wounds.

The country's prison system said that the facility currently held 4,137 prisoners.</s>Fraijanes, Guatemala – At least three people were killed and 10 people were wounded in a shooting inside a Guatemala prison Tuesday, authorities said.

The National Civil Police said the three dead were prisoners at the Pavon Rehabilitation Model Farm in the municipality of Fraijanes, about 10 miles east of Guatemala City.

Authorities had not regained control of the prison following a riot that began early Tuesday morning.

Cecilio Chacaj of the municipal firefighters said that 10 prisoners were transported to medical facilities with bullet wounds.

The country’s prison system said that the facility currently held 4,137 prisoners.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>At least seven people were killed and 17 injured after a shooting broke out at a prison in Guatemala on Tuesday.

National Civil Police said the dead were all prisoners at the Pavon Rehabilitation Model Farm in the municipality of Fraijanes, about 10 miles east of Guatemala City.

Prisoners had control of the facility for some eight hours on Tuesday. Gunshots could be heard inside the prison and some inmates could be seen carrying guns.

The prisoners even carried their own dead to the entrance so authorities could identify them.

Some 1,500 police officers and soldiers were sent to the scene, and regained control by late afternoon, officials said.

'Regarding the number of deceased inmates, there are seven confirmed. That is a preliminary number,' said Carlos Morales, a spokesman for Guatemala's prison system.

Mario Cruz, a spokesman for the volunteer firefighters, said eight people were killed and 17 injured.

'So far we have already removed seven bodies and we are waiting for the last one,' he said.

Camilo Gilberto Morales, director of Guatemala's penitentiary system, said the gunfire in one part of the prison appeared to have stemmed from an altercation between inmates.

'According to preliminary information it was a confrontation between an inmate in an alleged state of intoxication, shooting at another inmate,' he told local television channel TN23.

Cecilio Chacaj of the municipal firefighters said 10 prisoners suffered bullet wounds.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said officials were still gathering information about the incident.

The Pavon prison, some 10 miles from the Guatemalan capital, houses more than 4,100 inmates, according to official data. It was originally built for 900 people.

In 2016, a riot at the same prison left 14 people dead.</s>FRAIJANES, Guatemala (AP) — Gunfire during a riot in a Guatemala prison Tuesday left at least seven inmates dead and 10 wounded, authorities said.

National Civil Police said the dead were all prisoners at the Pavon Rehabilitation Model Farm in the municipality of Fraijanes, about 10 miles (17 kilometers) east of Guatemala City.

Prisoners had control of the facility for some eight hours Tuesday. Gunshots could be heard inside the prison and some inmates could be seen carrying guns. Prisoners carried their own dead to the entrance so authorities could identify them.

Some 1,500 police officers and soldiers were sent to the scene, and regained control by late afternoon, officials said.

Cecilio Chacaj of the municipal firefighters said 10 prisoners suffered bullet wounds.

Prison authorities said the facility was built to house 900 prisoners but held 4,137.</s>By The Associated Press

FRAIJANES, Guatemala (AP) — Gunfire during a riot in a Guatemala prison Tuesday left at least seven inmates dead and 10 wounded, authorities said. National Civil Police said the dead were all prisoners at the…

FRAIJANES, Guatemala (AP) — Gunfire during a riot in a Guatemala prison Tuesday left at least seven inmates dead and 10 wounded, authorities said.

National Civil Police said the dead were all prisoners at the Pavon Rehabilitation Model Farm in the municipality of Fraijanes, about 10 miles (17 kilometers) east of Guatemala City.

Prisoners had control of the facility for some eight hours Tuesday. Gunshots could be heard inside the prison and some inmates could be seen carrying guns. Prisoners carried their own dead to the entrance so authorities could identify them.

Some 1,500 police officers and soldiers were sent to the scene, and regained control by late afternoon, officials said.

Cecilio Chacaj of the municipal firefighters said 10 prisoners suffered bullet wounds.

Prison authorities said the facility was built to house 900 prisoners but held 4,137.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
At least seven people are killed and another 20 injured in a shooting at Pavón Prison near Guatemala City. The injured have been taken to hospital. Security forces have regained control of the facility.