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Three corrections officers in Virginia were taken to the hospital on Friday following an alleged organized assault by inmates connected to the notorious MS-13 gang and another recognized gang, according to a statement from the state Department of Corrections.
The attack occurred at around 9:45 a.m. at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Wise County, involving six inmates.
Five of them are confirmed members of the MS-13 gang, originally from El Salvador, who were in the U.S. illegally.
Among the assailants, five were serving time for severe offenses such as aggravated murder, first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and rape. The sixth inmate, a U.S. citizen and verified member of the Sureño 13 gang, is incarcerated for second-degree murder.
A gang member seen in a cell at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, in San Vicente, El Salvador, April 4. (Alex Pena/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The incident is under investigation and no additional information has been released.
MS-13, short for Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Known for its extreme violence, the group has expanded into Central America and various regions in the U.S.
Law enforcement agencies have linked MS-13 to numerous violent crimes including murder, human trafficking, extortion, and drug distribution.
Inmates remain in a cell at the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) mega-prison, where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are being held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images)
The Trump administration has increased enforcement actions targeting violent MS-13 or Tren de Aragua gang members who have entered the country illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported hundreds of arrests and deportations of gang-affiliated individuals each year. Federal and state officials have also noted concerns about MS-13 activity within the prison system and its broader implications for public safety.
The Virginia Department of Corrections said more information will be shared once the investigation is complete.
