Brazilian Prison Riots Over, Officials Say

Brazilian Prison Riots Over, Officials Say

---

Authorities swept through Brazil's large Carandiru prison Monday after inmates released the last of their hostages and agreed to end a massive 24-institution prison riot across Sao Paulo state, police officials said.

Hundreds of inmates remained out of their cells, authorities said, because police intended to process the inmates in the presence of observers to head off allegations of retaliation.

At least 12 people were killed in the coordinated riots that started Sunday when inmates began taking hostages during visiting day. The dead were all inmates killed as authorities fought to take back control of the facilities.

At the peak of the disturbances, more than 15,000 inmates were involved in actions at 24 facilities. Authorities had taken all but Carandiru back from the rioting inmates by late Monday morning.

The riots began simultaneously at midday Sunday and were apparently organized by the criminal network Capitals First Command (PCC).

The group is one of three large gangs operating inside Brazilian prisons. It was unclear how the group coordinated the actions, but police said inmates were using mobile phones to communicate with each other and with relatives outside the prisons.

Police would not say how the inmates were able to get the phones.