A fire broke out in the detention cells of the Limassol Police headquarters this afternoon after a prisoner set his cell alight, according to Philenews.
Police declared an alert and recalled off-duty personnel. Officers who entered the detention area to carry out an evacuation were taken to hospital after inhaling smoke.
At least three prisoners were also hospitalised. One was intubated and transferred to Nicosia General Hospital.
The prisoner who started the fire had been transferred to Limassol from Paphos earlier today after being deemed dangerous. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The cells were holding significantly more prisoners than officially provided for, Philenews reports. Among those held were remand prisoners from the Central Prisons. The remaining prisoners are to be moved to other districts.
The Fire Service is investigating how the fire started.
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