Revolt at Russian prison that leaves prisoner, guard dead

Photo: Revolt at Russian prison that leaves prisoner, guard dead

A mass uprising took place at a Russian prison for minors that left two people dead and buildings gutted. No the situation is under control, officials said Wednesday.

The unrest started late Tuesday when a group of inmates tried to break through a fence at the prison in the Sverdlovsk region in the Ural Mountains. Guards first fired a warning shot but then fired directly at prisoners after coming under attack, said Eduard Petrukhin, deputy director of the Federal Corrections Service.

One prisoner was killed, and a guard also died in the rampage, he said. Thirteen people were injured, including six guards.

More prisoners then joined the uprising, setting several buildings on fire and breaking windows. Eventually nearly half the prison's inmates, some 250 people, took part in the uprising, Petrukhin said.

Television images showed flames engulfing buildings in the middle of night and police in riot gear marching into the melee. The riot lasted approximately four hours, and by Wednesday morning had been subdued.

Eduard Rossel, governor of the Sverdlovsk region, expressed gratitude to the riot police, Channel One television reported. He said they prevented dangerous prisoners from escaping and going on a killing rampage.

Twenty prisoners slipped away in the melee, but they were all tracked down, according to television reports.

Deputy Justice Minister Alexander Savenkov said the uprising had probably been planned in advance since it occurred when women were guarding the compound, the Interfax news agency reported.

An inmate who had just turned 18 may have led the disturbance since he was scheduled to be transferred from the facility for adolescents to another populated by adults.