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Sri Lanka jail riot 'injures 28' in Colombo | Sri Lanka jail riot 'injures 28' in Colombo |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 28 people have been injured in clashes between guards and rioting inmates at a prison in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, police say. | |
Guards opened fire - most of the injured are inmates with bullet wounds. Unconfirmed reports say three are dead. | |
Prisoners are reported to have set fire to a kitchen and an administrative building at Welikada (Magazine) jail. | |
Reports say they want better food and conditions. Police say inmates are angry at moves to curb drug smuggling. | |
A local resident told the Associated Press there had been disturbances at the prison for several days. | |
Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said 24 prisoners and four guards had been hurt in Tuesday's violence. | Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said 24 prisoners and four guards had been hurt in Tuesday's violence. |
AP quoted a doctor at Colombo National Hospital saying most of the prisoners had gunshot wounds. Three guards had been hit by stones and another had a fractured leg. | AP quoted a doctor at Colombo National Hospital saying most of the prisoners had gunshot wounds. Three guards had been hit by stones and another had a fractured leg. |
None of the injuries was life threatening, Dr Prasad Ariyawansa said. | None of the injuries was life threatening, Dr Prasad Ariyawansa said. |
But one of the inmates told the BBC Sinhala service that three prisoners were in fact dead, contradicting what police told journalists outside. It was impossible to confirm the report. | |
Pictures from the scene showed soldiers deployed outside the jail as black smoke billowed into the air from inside the complex. | Pictures from the scene showed soldiers deployed outside the jail as black smoke billowed into the air from inside the complex. |
A number of prisoners have been demonstrating on rooftops with a banner calling for the prison chief to be removed. | |
Welikada is a maximum security jail described as Sri Lanka's largest. | Welikada is a maximum security jail described as Sri Lanka's largest. |