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Violent clashes at Sri Lanka's Welikada prison Violent clashes at Sri Lanka's Welikada prison
(35 minutes later)
Violent clashes have erupted between inmates and prison guards at the Welikada prison in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, reports say.Violent clashes have erupted between inmates and prison guards at the Welikada prison in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, reports say.
Several people are said to have been wounded when police commandos came under attack while conducting a search operation in the jail.Several people are said to have been wounded when police commandos came under attack while conducting a search operation in the jail.
One report says inmates were seen waving rifles from the roof of a prison building. Gunfire has also been heard.One report says inmates were seen waving rifles from the roof of a prison building. Gunfire has also been heard.
The army has been called in and roads leading to the prison are closed.The army has been called in and roads leading to the prison are closed.
A prisoner who was in the jail at the time told BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana that clashes broke out when police commandos entered the jail and started taking prisoners out of their cells and handcuffing them.A prisoner who was in the jail at the time told BBC Sinhala's Saroj Pathirana that clashes broke out when police commandos entered the jail and started taking prisoners out of their cells and handcuffing them.
Some reports say the police may have been searching for drugs and smuggled mobile phones.Some reports say the police may have been searching for drugs and smuggled mobile phones.
The prisoner told our correspondent that inmates seized weapons from the prison's weapon store and damaged the main entrance of the prison. He added that shooting could still be heard in the prison.
Up to 4,000 inmates are believed to be held at Welikada prison, which has seen similar violence in recent years.Up to 4,000 inmates are believed to be held at Welikada prison, which has seen similar violence in recent years.
In January 25 prisoners and four guards were wounded when clashes erupted, and in 2010 more than 50 police and prison guards were wounded during a raid to seize mobile phones.