Hundreds of Arab prisoners rioted today (Wednesday) in Megiddo Prison, with security prisoners setting tents ablaze and throwing rocks at guards and at firefighters sent to quell the flames. Due to the inability of firefighters to safely approach, a large fire has been burning out of control in the prison since late afternoon. Prisoners also threw rocks at vehicles passing through a nearby intersection, leading to the temporary closure of the road.
Military and civilian police were sent to the prison in large numbers and attempted to use tear gas and water cannons against the rioting inmates. But the prisoners were apparently prepared for such an eventuality and have been using homemade hot water and onion remedies to neutralize the effects of the gas and rocks to fashion barricades against the water cannons.
The ongoing violence was apparently sparked by a decision to transfer some of the inmates to another facility, Ketziot, in the Negev. As of this afternoon, there were no reports of injuries.
In a related item, prison guards discovered six cellular phones among the belongings of security prisoners in the Shatta Prison in the north. The prisoners also illegally held "hands-free" attachments and homemade antennas.
Military and civilian police were sent to the prison in large numbers and attempted to use tear gas and water cannons against the rioting inmates. But the prisoners were apparently prepared for such an eventuality and have been using homemade hot water and onion remedies to neutralize the effects of the gas and rocks to fashion barricades against the water cannons.
The ongoing violence was apparently sparked by a decision to transfer some of the inmates to another facility, Ketziot, in the Negev. As of this afternoon, there were no reports of injuries.
In a related item, prison guards discovered six cellular phones among the belongings of security prisoners in the Shatta Prison in the north. The prisoners also illegally held "hands-free" attachments and homemade antennas.