Brazilian officials say 22 died in prison gunbattle

SAO PAULO – Public security officials in Brazil’s northern state of Para say that 21 of the 22 people killed this week in a gunbattle at a prison in the state capital of Belem were inmates trying to stage a mass escape.

A guard at the Santa Izabel penitentiary was also killed during the shootings that occurred on April 10. In a statement, the state’s Public Security Department said Friday that five of the 21 inmates killed were prisoners from a block of the penitentiary who used assault weapons, pistols and explosives to help fellow inmates escape.

Officials earlier said 20 had died.

The statement said none of the prisoners managed to flee.

Police are investigating if the plan originated inside or outside the prison.

Further details were not immediately available.