Two killed, five injured when brawl erupts at Dominican prison

Two inmates have died and five were injured when an escape attempt by some men erupted into a brawl with other prisoners.

The seven men were allegedly trying to escape from La Vega prison, 125 kilometres (75 miles) northwest of the capital, Santo Domingo, when other inmates intervened to stop them to avoid being put under stricter security.

Guards shot and killed Carlos Francisco Gonzalez, 22, as he scaled the metal fence around the prison. The other prisoner who died, Jose Cerafin Toribio, 29, was beaten to death by other inmates, warden Freddy Navarro said.

Officials had not yet determined how many inmates were involved in the brawl.

The seven who allegedly tried to escape were able to pick the locks on their cells and run for the fence, Navarro said. The inmates who intervened also were able to pick their locks, he said.

Officials were searching cells to confiscate weapons after determining that some of the inmates were armed with knives.

The prison in La Vega was built for 300 people, but now houses 545.