Moment prison goes up in flames as rioting lags start fires and climb on roof

dailystar.co.uk:

fire and lags are running loose around the compound and climbing onto the roof, as shown in a dramatic video.Fire crews rushed to Acacia Prison in Wooroloo, a town on the edge of Perth, at 4.30pm local time on Sunday (February 27) amid reports of a riot.In the clip, filmed from a Nine News helicopter, thick black smoke is pouring out of the building and many prisoners have climbed on top of the roof.There are reports the prisoners have been throwing rocks at firefighters attempting to combat the plane, and they are using riot shields to protect themselves from the violence.Footage also shows lags armed with sticks or batons and hiding their faces by wrapping shirts around their heads.The flames are also visible in one part of the building, and local media claims lags are "setting fire to objects inside their cells" and still inside the building.No staff have been hurt but it's not yet clear if there were any injuries to prisoners.It comes after Acacia Prison was put under partial lockdown, restricting the movement of prisoners, due to seven people testing positive for Covid-19.

On February 15 a prison officer developed symptoms and was diagnosed with coronavirus, followed by two prisoners and another four staff on February 18, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice in Western Australia.

It said: "No prisoners have been identified as close contacts. A forensic clean of the unit and high traffic areas is being conducted."A testing station has been established on site, which will provide all staff and prisoners from the unit access to RATs."The Department of Justice said inmates at Acacia Prison have access to Covid-19 vaccinations and will soon be able to get a third shot of the jab..