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Panoramic view of Castro Castro prison
Panoramic view of Castro Castro prison taken on July 9, 1990. With the intention of freeing its detained militants from Castro Castro prison, the MRTA had begun, three years earlier, the construction of a 332-meter tunnel. In the early months of 1990, a contingent from the self-styled "Urban Special Forces" accelerated its completion, finishing the work by mid-year. On July 9, 47 MRTA members, including leaders and militants, escaped from the prison. The impact of the escape once again thrust the subversive group into the national public spotlight.