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French inmates riot after stealing keys

September 13, 2016

Dozens of inmates started a fire during a riot in a French prison, after attacking a warden and stealing his keys. The incident began because a prisoner was denied parole, according to a source within the facility.

https://p.dw.com/p/1K0xU
Frankreich Meuterei im Gefängnis von Vivonne in der Nähe von Poitiers
Image: Getty Images/AFP/G. Souvant

The authorities managed to restore order several hours after the riot started in the town of Poitiers on Monday afternoon.

At least 60 inmates were involved in the riots in the Vivonne prison center, officials said. The violence was sparked by a single inmate who encouraged rebellion after he was denied parole, a prison source told the AFP news agency.

"Two prisoners jostled a guard and managed to steal his keys, which allowed them to open all the cells," union official Emmanuel Giraud told AFP. They proceeded to set fire in one of the prison buildings and "break everything," he added.

Frankreich Meuterei im Gefängnis von Vivonne in der Nähe von Poitiers
Ambulances took several people to hospital for smoke inhalationImage: Getty Images/AFP/G. Souvant

Special gendarmerie units and riot teams were called in to subdue the prisoners. The prison authorities also alerted the firefighters, who managed to put out the fire in the three-storey building.

The security forces eventually drove the rioting inmates into the prison gym and then returned them to their cells.

Although no security forces members were injured in the incident, five guards and six inmates were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and one of the prisoners suffered a heart attack.

Built in 2009, the Vivonne prison complex among the most modern in France. It houses over 500 prisoners.

dj/kms (AFP, dpa, Reuters)