Prison bosses have confirmed that two officers were injured after up to 10 inmates at a Scottish jail went berserk.
Prisoners also started fires at the private HMP Addiewell, near Livingston, after tensions were raised in the jail because of the potential spread of coronavirus.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has issued a statement to downplay claims of a riot that came from prisoners, reports the Daily Record.
Fears have continued to exist of further unrest in overcrowded Scottish jails over the difficulty in establishing social distancing.
But despite many prisoners being forced to share cells with people showing symptoms, just two cases of Covid-19 had been confirmed by yesterday, with 96 “self-isolating” across nine jails.
We previously reported how emergency services raced to Addiewell Prison after reports of a “riot”.
Up to 10 prisoners smashed up areas in Forth D Hall and several fires were started but these were put out by prisoners before Scottish Fire and Rescue attended.
The SPS said claims of a prison officer being taken hostage and stabbed were unfounded.
In a video sent to the Record, one prisoner laughed as he discussed with another the vandalism done to the hall.
He asked: “Where’s your cosh?” This resulted in a length of metal being produced.
One prisoner also waved the identity card of an officer, employed by private services firm Sodexo.
HMP Addiewell said: “Residents took part in a violent incident, which was securely contained within one of the wings in the prison. Some damage was caused before staff brought the incident to a safe and professional conclusion.”
An SPS spokesperson said on Tuesday: “An incident took yesterday in HMP Addiewell, where a small number of individuals were involved in a disturbance in one section of the establishment.
“The prison was secured last night. The individuals involved have both been reported to police.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 11.12am on Monday, March 23, to reports of a fire within a prison in West Lothian.
“Operations Control mobilised five fire appliances to West Calder’s HMP Addiewell, however, the fire was extinguished by prison staff prior to the arrival of crews. Firefighters left the scene after the area was made safe.”
The two case of Covid-19 confirmed are at HMP Kilmarnock.
The 96 self-isolating cases come from three prisons and six have so far not witnessed symptoms.
