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At Least 16 Killed in Prison Fire in Guyana Amid Riot
Source: Associated Press
At Least 16 Killed in Prison Fire in Guyana Amid Riot
By BERT WILKINSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Mar 3, 2016, 3:03 PM ET
At least 16 prisoners died in a fire Thursday as they protested overcrowding and other issues inside a prison in the capital of the South American country of Guyana, authorities said.
Inmates set two fires during a riot in the most secure section of Georgetown Prison as guards swept the lockup and seized drugs, cell phones and other items, said Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
"We have a crisis on our hands," he said. "Long delays in trials have caused much frustration and vexation among prisoners."
The first fire was set late Wednesday using mattresses and was extinguished with no injuries reported. The second fire was set Thursday around noon and led to the fatalities, officials said.
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By BERT WILKINSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Mar 3, 2016, 3:03 PM ET
At least 16 prisoners died in a fire Thursday as they protested overcrowding and other issues inside a prison in the capital of the South American country of Guyana, authorities said.
Inmates set two fires during a riot in the most secure section of Georgetown Prison as guards swept the lockup and seized drugs, cell phones and other items, said Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
"We have a crisis on our hands," he said. "Long delays in trials have caused much frustration and vexation among prisoners."
The first fire was set late Wednesday using mattresses and was extinguished with no injuries reported. The second fire was set Thursday around noon and led to the fatalities, officials said.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/16-killed-prison-fire-guyana-37371980