Inmates riot at prison

JERUSALEM – About 1 000 Palestinian prisoners rioted at an Israeli desert prison early yesterday, attacking guards, torching the tents where they are housed and leaving 30 people injured, a prison spokesperson said.

The violence broke out overnight at the Ketziot prison in southern Israel when guards began searching prisoners’ bunks for contraband, Israel Prisons Authority spokesperson Ian Domnitz said. About 2 200 Palestinian prisoners are serving sentences for security offences at the prison, Domnitz said.Prisoners lit 10 tents on fire and attacked the guards, lightly wounding 15 of them, Domnitz said.Prison officers moved in to quell the riot, injuring 15 prisoners, he said.Four prisoners were hospitalised, with one critically wounded by a “non-lethal weapon”, Domnitz said.He would not specify the type of weapon.”The weapon was used in response to the endangerment of the lives of prison officers in the cell block,” Domnitz said.Nampa-APAbout 2 200 Palestinian prisoners are serving sentences for security offences at the prison, Domnitz said.Prisoners lit 10 tents on fire and attacked the guards, lightly wounding 15 of them, Domnitz said.Prison officers moved in to quell the riot, injuring 15 prisoners, he said.Four prisoners were hospitalised, with one critically wounded by a “non-lethal weapon”, Domnitz said.He would not specify the type of weapon.”The weapon was used in response to the endangerment of the lives of prison officers in the cell block,” Domnitz said.Nampa-AP