Guatemala city: Inmates at three prisons in Guatemala rioted on Saturday and took at least 46 people hostage, most of them prison guards, along with a psychologist, authorities said. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda confirmed at a press conference that no deaths or injuries among the hostages had been reported so far.

According to Qatar News Agency, the riots were coordinated across the three prisons and were organized by the Barrio 18 gang. The unrest was sparked by the gang's leader seeking a transfer to another prison in hopes of obtaining better conditions and special treatment. Villeda emphasized that the government would not negotiate with the Barrio 18 gang or restore any privileges in exchange for an end to the violence.

While hostage situations involving prison guards have occurred previously in Guatemala, officials indicated that the number of hostages taken in this incident is significantly higher than in past cases. This highlights the rising tensions within the country's prison system.