WESTERN BUREAU – Fifteen prisoners who were part of an eight-hour riot that left a similar number of cops injured at the Montego Bay Police Station were yesterday moved to the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston, where the authorities say they will be under greater security.

Two other prisoners were also in hospital under police guard as a result of the Sunday night uproar at the St James Divisional Police Headquarters’ lock-up at Freeport. The police were only able to quell the disturbance with the use of tear gas and the fire brigade’s powerful water hoses, as well as help from the Special Anti-Crime Task Force, led by Senior Superintendent Donald Pusey.

The fighting for the cell block began from about 7:30 pm Sunday night and lasted until about 3:30 am yesterday, the police said.

None of the injuries appeared to have been life-threatening.

“The situation is back to normal, the station is calm,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Area One Division Linton Latty. Fifteen pieces of iron, eight knives, two cell phones and a cell phone battery were seized during a search after security forces took back the lock-up.

Yesterday, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), which described the incident as “an attempted jailbreak”, linked the riot to “increased police action against alleged drug dons in the parish”. The CCN did not explain the links and other police sources could not immediately clarify the statement.

“A special team of police investigators who are already in the region have been assigned to investigate these incidents,” said the CCN in a release.

There have been a number of high-profile arrests in Montego Bay over the past few months, with businessmen Leebert Ramcharan and Donovan Williams now before the courts for extradition hearings. They are suspected of drug and money laundering.

Sunday’s stand-off at the lock-up began when one of two policemen, who went to serve supper to the inmates in cell number seven, was held up at knife point. The policeman was slashed on the hand and inmates managed to get hold of the keys to the cells.

According to CCN liaison officer, Constable Camille Tracy, the prisoners then used the keys to open other cell doors, allowing inmates to enter the corridor.

In the riot that followed, inmates broke off pieces of concrete from sections of the building, using them as weapons against the police, Tracy said.

“Others used knives, pieces of iron and steel to attack them (police) as well,” Tracy said. Damage has been estimated at just over $900,000.

As the stand-off continued throughout the night, there were attempts by members of the clergy and Montego Bay political leaders, to broker a peaceful solution. The prisoners asked to speak with member of parliament for North West St James Dr Horace Chang, and mayor of Montego Bay Noel Donaldson.

According to Dr Chang, who eventually met with a delegation of three prisoners, the inmates’ demands were unclear.

“There was a vague call for justice, they had a problem with how the lock-up is being managed, day-to-day,” the MP said.

“They complained that some were getting more privileges, some get medical treatment before some.”

He estimated that there were about 93 prisoners in the cells during the riot, including one UK resident who penned the inmates’ demand letter.