Sporting event in Mexico prison between two rival drug cartels turned into a bloodbath • The event also injured the wives and children of criminals, who were invited to watch the deadly game

• Mexico shooting scene // Photo: AFP

Deadly Game: A sporting event that was supposed to battle two drug cartel factions in Mexico, which took place in a Zacatecas City Jail, ended with a tragic result - 16 killed and 20 injured.

The match took place in prison between the people of the "Guelph" drug cartel and the "Zeta" rival drug cartel in the presence of family members of both parties including small children. The incident took place on the water, until there was an urgency between the parties, which led to the melee. At this point, the prisoners on both sides took out pistols, rifles and machine guns and began firing at each other.

Photo: Reuters

The guards and police forces intervened in an attempt to stop the bloodbath, but the outbreak of violence was great for the local force and police and military from across the province were brought in as reinforcements. The tragic result of the game was 16 fatalities in the incident, and dozens injured. About 20 ambulances evacuated them from the scene. Among the injured were the relatives of the inmates, including women and children.

At the end of the fighting, the authorities conducted a comprehensive inspection of the prison, in order to remove the weapons and drugs that were left at the scene. Four guns, 20 knives and many drugs were found in the scan.

2019 was one of the most violent years in Mexico following a bloody fight among the country's drug barons. In many areas, tens and even hundreds were murdered, with central government remaining powerless.

Paradoxically, one of the causes of the outbreak of violence and bloodshed was the arrest of the drug baron and the head of one of the cartels in Mexico, El Chapo, who was extradited to the United States. His extradition caused the cartel he headed to fight hard to maintain his "grip on the ground."