A warder who was apparently hurt in yesterday's shooting at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre is being taken to hospital in a police car. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

A warder and three prisoners were yesterday shot dead during an escape bid by inmates at the Tower Street Correctional Centre in downtown Kingston.

Eight others received injuries during the riot at the maximum security facility, which sent some inmates and visitors scurrying for cover.

Superintendent Ionie Ramsay-Nelson, head of the Constabulary Communication Network, the police's information arm, told reporters that at about 10:15 am while warders were processing inmates and visitors who had taken food and clothes for relatives and friends, a man in the crowd pulled a firearm.

"The warders took evasive action, pulled their firearms, shots were fired and the prisoners and warders were shot," Ramsay-Nelson said. "It was later discovered that four people were shot dead.

"Initial investigations revealed that the shooting was part of a plot to disrupt the service of the prison and create a mass escape," Ramsay-Nelson added.

These ladies were obviously traumatised by yesterday's shooting at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

After the shooting, prison warder Maurice Whittingham, 28, of Horizon Park in Spanish Town, St Catherine, lay dead, while three of his colleagues - Wayne Lindsay, Roger Mills and Cleopatrick Blake - and aftercare officer Carol Clarke were shot and injured. They were all taken to hospital where Lindsay, 37, who was shot in the left hip, and Mills, who received gunshot wounds to the shoulder and face, were hospitalised. The others were treated and released.

The three dead prisoners were identified as Kamar Cottrell, of Highlight View, Gordon Town, St Andrew, who was serving a 15-year sentence for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition, and wounding with intent; Richard Harrison and Jeffrey Jones.

A police source said there was a two-hour standoff by prisoners, which had prevented Cottrell's body from being moved to the morgue. The source said a prisoner who was carrying a gun had threatened to kill inmates on one of the blocks.

Three inmates and a visitor to the prison also received injuries and were admitted to hospital. The visitor, who was being questioned by the police in connection with the shooting, was under police guard at hospital.

A warder, Dennis Wright, who witnessed the shooting, was admitted to hospital for shock. "He is traumatised and cannot talk... It is like his brain is gone...he saw everything," one of Wright's colleagues told the Observer as tears rolled down his cheeks.

A .38 revolver and six spent shells, which were recovered by warders after the shooting, were handed over to the police.

Up to last night, the prison was being searched by officers from the Caribbean Search Centre, Jamaica Defence Force and the Correctional Services.

Last night, Peter Phillips, the national security minister, ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and asked that a report be submitted to him within 10 days.

At the same time, prison boss Major Richard Reese has instructed that a board of inquiry submit a report to him on the matter by April 14.

Minister Grange tours new BBC studios

Guinness Sounds of Greatness creating a dancehall for everyone

Tarrus Riley shoots video for Start Anew