(AP) -- MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- A prison riot in Mexico left at least 40 people dead.
A spokesman for Nuevo Leon state public security said the riot broke out overnight in a high-security section of a prison near the northern industrial city of Monterrey.
He said a group of inmates in one cell block started to riot and took a guard hostage.
The riot then spread to a second cell block.
Authorities regained control of the prison a couple hours later, but not until after at least 40 people were killed.
Families of the prisoners gathered outside the prison shouting at police to demand word of the victims.
Gangs and drug cartels periodically stage jail breaks and battle for control of Mexican prisons, often with the involvement of officials.
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