6 gang members killed in “accident” in Honduras prison

The authorities in Honduras announced that six gang members were killed in an “accident” that took place in a high-security prison in the northwest of the country, without specifying the nature of this incident.

The Ministry of Security said in a statement that “an incident occurred in Ilama (El Pozo) prison in Santa Barbara, where the death of six prisoners was reported.”

She added that the circumstances of the incident are still under investigation.

For his part, the government official in charge of prisons, Pedro Joaquín Amador, told the media that the six prisoners who died all belonged to the Barrio 18 gang.

Local media quoted the director of the prison, Maron Largo, as saying that the bodies of the six prisoners were found lying on the ground, with the exception of their underwear.

In recent days, he added, “nothing has happened that could raise our concern. It was an absolute surprise.”

There are about 1,600 inmates in this prison, nearly 600 of whom belong to the Barrio 18 gang.