Suspects from east J'lem set mattress, piles of clothing on fire; 4 seriously hurt, 4 moderately hurt from smoke inhalation and burns.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN
A riot broke out at the Ma'asiyahu Prison in Ramle on Thursday morning, resulting in a fire and several injuries.Authorities say the incident began in the prison's Ward 14, where suspects from east Jerusalem set their mattresses and piles of clothing on fire in their cell. The prisoners became trapped in their cell as the fire grew, forcing Prison Service wardens to break in and rescue them.Four prisoners suffered serious injuries and four more were moderately injured from smoke inhalation and burns.The two wardens who rescued the prisoners were lightly injured.Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated the injured to the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin.Prison Service staff backed up by police in Ramle surrounded the hospital to ensure that the injured prisoners do not attempt to mount an escape.The prisoners, who are being held at Ma'asiyahu for a few days due to police investigations against them , began the disturbance to protest their conditions of incarceration.