UK prison ablaze as prisoners riot

Specialist officers had to be called in today after about 40 prisoners began a riot and set alight an open prison in Britain, according to the Ministry of Justice.

At about midnight, the prisoners at HMP Ford near Arundel, West Sussex in England, began smashing windows, activating fire alarms before setting the building alight.

Staff were forced to retreat from the section and police and specialist prison officers were called in.

A British Ministry of Justice spokesman said no injuries to prisoners or staff had been reported.

He said: “At around 12am about 40 prisoners began smashing windows and setting off fire alarms at the establishment and set one building alight.

“Prison staff were forced to retreat and police and the fire brigade have been called. Specialist teams of prison officers have been called in to deal with the incident. We have no reports of any injuries to staff or prisoners at this stage.”