Indonesian police storm Bali prison to end riot

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DENPASAR, Indonesia - Indonesian security forces stormed Bali's Kerobokan prison Wednesday to quell a riot that raged through the night at the infamous jail where 12 Australians including drug smugglers are held.

"About 100 police and military forces entered the prison at about dawn. They were forced to open fire and three people were injured in the legs and taken to hospital," Bali deputy police chief Ketut Untung Sayoga told AFP.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said all 12 Australian prisoners at Kerobokan, including two on death row and six serving life sentences, were safe.

Indonesian authorities said the riot broke out in a separate part of the overcrowded prison to where foreigners including the Australians are held, and that they were not involved in the fracas.

Police spokesman Hariadi said the situation was calm by morning time and that the prisoners had returned to their cells after a night of tension.

"Late in the evening on Tuesday the prisoners got angry and set fire to one of the offices and began hurling stones at prison staff," Hariadi said, adding that authorities were still trying to determine what had caused the trouble.

He said police and military forces stormed the prison after several attempts at negotiating with the rioting prisoners had failed.

Among the Australians at the jail are convicted drug carrier Schapelle Corby and the group known as the "Bali Nine", who were caught attempting to smuggle drugs from the resort island.

Info : News