Nicosia, Cyprus. Three inmates allegedly set fire to cells and a corridor in a maximum-security wing at the central prisons on Sunday night, prompting the evacuation of the unit and sending a prison officer to hospital with smoke inhalation.
The fire broke out at about 10.15pm in wing four, which housed 10 prisoners. No inmates were injured.
Evacuation and response
Prison staff removed all inmates from the affected area before the fire service arrived and brought the blaze under control.
Authorities said mattresses were burned and extensive smoke damage was caused throughout the wing. A staff member was taken to hospital as a precaution after inhaling smoke.
The prisoners were temporarily transferred to another section of the prison while investigations continue.
Alleged deliberate fire
Prison authorities said three prisoners deliberately started the fire, allegedly setting their cells and the corridor outside ablaze.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Wing four
Wing four is a smaller maximum-security unit intended for inmates with mental health needs. Its cells are configured without electrical appliances, while prisoners share access to one television in the communal area before the cells are locked.
The wing’s walls are lined with protective padding intended to reduce the risk of self-harm. It was previously used as a punishment block for prisoners serving disciplinary isolation.
Previous fatal assault
The wing was also the scene of a fatal assault in December last year, when a 35-year-old Egyptian inmate died after being attacked inside the unit. A 30-year-old Greek Cypriot prisoner was subsequently arrested in connection with the killing.
The latest fire has again drawn attention to the operation of the wing, where concerns have previously been raised about housing prisoners with differing needs in the same confined unit.
