An attempted prison escape in Honduras early Thursday resulted in two inmates dead and three injured, authorities reported. The incident occurred at a men’s prison in Tamara, approximately 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Colonel Ramiro Muñoz, commander of the military police force called in to handle the situation, stated that 72 prisoners participated in the escape attempt. One inmate died at the prison, while another succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.
“Everything is now calm and in order,” Muñoz told local media. “This isn’t going to set us back, there is no other prison in the world where this doesn’t happen.”
According to Muñoz, the incident began around 4 a.m. when prisoners barricaded themselves inside a section of the prison, apparently as a diversionary tactic. Military police responded, though details of the confrontation were not provided. Muñoz announced that a forensic investigation would be conducted to clarify the circumstances.
This event follows a deadly riot at the women’s prison in Tamara last year, which left 46 dead and prompted calls for reform in Honduras’ prison system. Some even suggested emulating the strict, no-privileges approach implemented in neighboring El Salvador by President Nayib Bukele.
In response to ongoing challenges, Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced plans in June to construct a new 20,000-capacity “megaprison” as part of broader efforts to combat gang violence and overhaul the country’s troubled correctional system.
AP
