Inmates on the Milanese prison of San Vittore (Ansa)

  • Coronavirus, photos of the revolt of the prisoners of San Vittore prison
  • Modena, prisoner dies during riot in prison

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March 09, 2020

From Modena, to Pavia to San Vittore to Milan, from Reggio Emilia to Ferrara, from Rebibbia, to Rome, and Prato up to the Ucciardone of Palermo in Foggia, where he is hunting for escaped people.

Protests are rampant in Italian prisons, on the wave of fear of coronavirus contagion and the restrictions on talks due to the emergency, and against the background of overcrowding now difficult to contain.

The most serious situation in Modena , which resulted yesterday in a real prisoner revolt, which caused 6 deaths among the guests of the penitentiary, three inside the walls of the prison in sommosa and three during transfers to other prisons to bring back the normal situation, and which involved 80 prisoners out of a total of 530.

Four other inmates are instead hospitalized in serious health and with a reserved prognosis. Three prison guards and seven health care workers with minor injuries are also treated in hospital; one of these is slightly intoxicated. On the incident, the Modena prosecutor's office opened an investigation: resistance to public officials and private violence the alleged crimes, but the causes of the deaths will also need to be clarified. A first hypothesis, still to be confirmed by the outcome of the autopsy, is that the deaths may be linked to the abuse of drugs. Prison devastated, with mattress fires and objects thrown at the agents. In general parapiglia, some inmates had in fact appropriated medicines from the pharmacy inside the structure. On the bodies of the first 3 no signs of violence, only one appeared cyanotic.

The deaths would have occurred from drug overdose - reports the prison police Uilpa - in particular methadone, which the prisoners had procured by plundering the prison infirmary, but autopsies will still have to be performed to be sure.

From Modena to Milan , where about twenty inmates climbed the roof of the prison of San Vittore, a historic and crowded penitentiary in the city center, shouting freedom. The prisoners of 'La Nave', the model department reserved for those suffering from addictions, started the protest. People who have chosen to follow the path of recovery. Two prison beams ravaged before the protest returned. Firefighters also intervened on the spot. To contain the revolt, a public order service has been set up.

Last night it was instead the turn of Pavia, with two agents held hostage by the prisoners, after they had stolen the keys from the cells, allowing the companions to go out in the corridors: the devastation of some areas of the structure followed, some they climbed the roofs and the perimeter walkways. And, in this climate, today in Palermo the Ucciardone prison appears armored, after yesterday's escape attempts: all access routes closed to traffic and state police control garrisons in via Enrico Albanese, in via Borrelli and via Delle Croci, the closest point between the "arms" and the enclosure walls.

Instead, the situation inside the Foggia prison is slowly returning to normal where, this morning, there was a protest with an evasion of about fifty prisoners. "About twenty are still out and some of them have kidnapped a mechanic, who has been attacked and threatened, and have stolen machines and tools from the workshop, which can also be used as blunt instruments," confirms the Uilpa prison police union. In the area, explains the union, several stores have also been closed by frightened traders.

In Rebibbia, detainees set fire to mattresses
Pproteste also in the Roman prison of Rebibbia Nuovo Complesso, where some prisoners set fire to mattresses. Via della Lungara closed for a couple of hours, via Tiburtina also closed to traffic, due to the presence of twenty relatives or acquaintances of the prisoners.

Riot in Rieti prison, held on the roof
Riot in Rieti prison 'New complex'. About fifteen prisoners climbed onto the roof of the institute of Vazia, just outside the Rieti capital.

Protest in prison in Prato, cells on fire
A protest is underway at the prison in Prato. Police and carabinieri enclosed the penitentiary area. There would be fire cells, firefighters also intervene on site. From the outside the cries are heard.

Matera, detainees refuse to return to the cell
Protests of detainees this morning also in the Matera district house. Law enforcement officers immediately intervened to contain and manage the state of unrest in synergy with the prison police. A dozen detainees refused to return to the cells protesting restrictions on visitor talks. A prisoner also went up on the roof.

Turin, prisoners barricaded in four sections
Tensions also in the Turin prison of the Vallette. The inmates of four ordinary sections of Hall B barricaded themselves by placing the beds against the entrances. The secretary general of OSAP, Leo Beneduci, has made it known: "There are now about fifty throughout the country in protest - he underlines - and despite the exceptional nature of the moment there is no doubt that the responsibility goes to those who have underestimated the prisons system hazard ".

Bonafede: "No results with violent protests"
A very serious situation throughout Italy, which has not failed to provoke fears and reactions.
The Minister of Justice Alfonso Bonafede has defined "a duty to protect the health of those who work and live in penitentiary institutions". "We will maintain a constant dialogue, task forces are active in the departments of competence and constant information is ensured within the structures for the detained population and workers. But it must be clear - concluded the minister - that any protest through violence is only to condemn and will not lead to any good results. "

Wednesday at 5pm Bonafede information in the Senate
Next Wednesday, March 11, the Minister of Justice Alfonso Bonafede will give his information on the prison situation in the Senate Chamber. This was decided today by the Conference of the Group Leaders of Palazzo Madama.

Yesterday protests also in other Italian penitentiaries
Protests in Italian prisons, which resulted in revolt for prevention measures from Covid-19, started from Salerno to extend to Modena, Naples, Frosinone. The district houses of Vercelli, Alessandria are also interested. Modena, Genoa and Foggia. In Naples, the relatives of the detainees also participated in the protest.