Chaos erupted at HMP Birmingham as rioting prisoners set fire to multiple wings and breached internal gates. Four wings of the Victorian-era Category B prison in Winson Green are now under inmate control, with officers from the elite Tornado team facing paint thrown at them during attempts to restore order.
To tackle the escalating violence, reinforcements from HMP Aylesbury have been called in, increasing the number of riot officers on site to 278. Authorities have also requested additional support from HM Prison Isle of Wight’s Tornado team. This new deployment joins squads previously sent from Risley, Onley, Bullingdon, and Liverpool as part of a third phase response aimed at regaining control of the prison.
The violent outbreak began shortly after 9am. Inmates reportedly stole keys from guards, which helped fuel the chaos. Flames are visible inside the prison, with reports of prisoners trapped and calling for help amid thick smoke.
Jerry Petherick, G4S Managing Director for custodial and detention services, said, “Given the scale of this incident and deployment of national resources, we have agreed that the overall operational responsibility for the response will transfer to the Prison Service with immediate effect. Our command team remains on site and our staff will be actively involved in the recovery of the affected wings.”
West Midlands Police confirmed the disorder is fully contained within the prison walls and stressed that no officers are currently inside. Police Commander Richard Moore stated, “This operation will be led by the Prison Service and its specialist teams which are well-drilled in tackling such situations.”
The Prison Officers Association expressed grave concerns, stating, “Approximately 300 prisoners are involved across two wings. No staff injuries have been reported so far, but this incident exposes once again that the prison service is in crisis.”
Fire engines remain stationed outside the prison, which holds up to 1,450 adult males, as emergency crews work to bring the blaze under control and restore order.
Originally published by UKNIP.
