Haiti - News Flash : Violent riot at the National Penitentiary (UPDATE 4:20pm)

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Haiti - News Flash : Violent riot at the National Penitentiary (UPDATE 4:20pm)
17/10/2010 16:25:03

A violent riot erupted Sunday morning at the National Penitentiary, the main prison of the capital, which houses 1.469 inmates. Several police, peacekeepers and prison staff were taken in hostage. The mutineers seized the weapons of the guards and of the soldiers and several shots coming from the prison were heard by witnesses whereas one or more hearths of fires were lit in the prison.

Later in the day, Brazilian police seemed to have regained control of the National Penitentiary. It is reported that at least 5 police officers assigned to the UN prison were beaten and seriously injured by inmates. Some sources, unofficial, say there were several dead on the side of the hostages. Another unconfirmed source indicates that at least one prisoner was killed during the clash with the Brazilian forces.

It seems that several prisoners have managed to escape through the courtyard of the College Bird adjacent to the prison, however in the absence of official declaration on the assessment of this mutiny we cannot confirm this information. At the present time, a great confusion reigns on the spot and testimonies are divergent and contradictory.

UPDATE 4:20
The causes of the riot were not clearly known. According to a spokesman for the Department of Justice three detainees were killed, including two who tried to escape. Jean-François Vézina spokesman for the UN police said that the 7 hostages (non-Haitian) held by the prisoners were all released and have suffered only minor injuries (Contrary to what had been said previously) without providing further details.

BF / HaitiLibre