NATION : Police Quell Pa. Prison Melee
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CAMP HILL, Pa. — Heavily armed police firing tear gas stormed a state prison and freed three remaining hostages today to end a second night of rioting by inmates who burned eight prison buildings to protest overcrowding.
“We are once again in control of the entire institution,” Pennsylvania state corrections department spokesman Kenneth Robinson told a news conference.
He said 44 guards, inmates, firefighters and police were injured during the 14 hours of rioting, which began when cell doors automatically sprang open for no apparent reason. One inmate was shot by police, but his condition was not known.
Robinson said five of the eight buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged by the blazes.
It was the second night of rioting at the 52-acre Camp Hill medium security prison. Forty-three people were injured in Wednesday night’s rioting.
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