Police have arrested eleven individuals in connection with a prison riot that left two inmates dead on Sunday afternoon at the Nigrita Prison in Serres, northern Greece.
According to preliminary reports, the suspects include two inmates—a Georgian and an Albanian national—who are allegedly responsible for the murders of a 46-year-old Algerian (of Palestinian descent) and a 43-year-old Iraqi man. The remaining nine individuals were arrested for their involvement in the brawl.
Timeline of the prison riot
The altercation broke out shortly before 4:00 PM within the prison’s disciplinary wing. Authorities believe the violence was the result of a “settling of scores” between rival inmate factions.
The violence erupted during recreational time in a prison corridor. Four inmates reportedly exited their cell and forced open the padlocks of two adjacent cells. Armed with improvised sharp objects, likely knives, the group launched a coordinated attack on inmates held in the disciplinary unit.
Prison guards intervened immediately to separate the groups and provide first aid until an ambulance arrived. A preliminary investigation is currently being conducted by the Serres Crime Investigation Sub-Directorate, while a separate disciplinary inquiry has been ordered to examine how the security breach occurred.
Related: Council of Europe Blasts Greek Prison System
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