17 killed in jailbreak attempt in northern Mexico

Eleven prisoners and six guards were killed on Tuesday when prison police were trying to stop a jailbreak in northern Mexico, local authorities said. The clashes broke out at around 5:00 p.m. (2300 GMT) at a prison in Gomez Palacio city of Durango State, the state's public security ministry said in a statement. The rebellious prisoners shot at guard towers, setting off alarm bells, the statement said. The guards fired back at prisoners trying to escape the facility through tunnels and back fence after warning shots had failed to stop them. Troops were rushed to the prison, and the situation is under control, the statement said, adding an investigation is underway to determine the causes and the responsibilities of the incident.