Monday, May 09, 2005
Pizza for hostages
Jax
A two-day prison siege in Australia has ended after inmates agreed to exchange their hostage for a delivery of pizzas.
A group of 20 inmates at Risdon maximum security prison, in the Tasmanian capital Hobart, seized a guard and a number of other prisoners on Saturday.
"Our staff member was negotiated out with the delivery of 15 pizzas," prisons director Graeme Barber said.
Once the inmates, who were demanding better treatment, had eaten their fill, they let the other hostages go.
The siege-takers had been holed up in the reception centre at Risdon prison for 40 hours.
During that time, they laid waste to the area, destroying computers and files.
Initially, the prisoners had drawn up a list of 24 demands, which reportedly included offering more job opportunities to inmates and increased pay for that work. (Link)