PRISON BREAK

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29942, 2 October 1962, Page 15

PRISON BREAK

Condemned Men Shot

(N Z .P .A.-Reuter— Copyright) PRETORIA, Oct. 1.

Three African prisoners were shot dead when 61 men awaiting execution staged a mass escape bid from Pretoria Central Prison last night. A fourth prisoner was injured. Five prison officers are also in hospital and others received minor injuries. Officials said the prisoners attacked four warders serving dinner with weapons fashioned from lengths of piping and pieces of furniture which had been bent and sharpened. They overwhelmed the officers, snatched a key from one warder, and unlocked the door to the condemned section. But the guard at the security gate raised the alarm. The Commissioner of Prisons, Mr V. R. Verster, said efforts to quash the breakout with tear gas failed, and prison officers were forced to use firearms before the situation was brought under control.

The revolt is believed the first in the condemned section of the Central Prison, which houses prisoners from all parts of the country.

Some of the prisoners—there for a variety of crimes, including murder and rapehave been at the prison for up to two years while their cases were checked and appeals made. It was not known if the prisoners included any whites.