AUSTRALIAN authorities yesterday ended a 15-hour prison riot involving up to 300 inmates in Melbourne suspected to have been triggered by a ban on smoking.

    Rioters armed with pieces of wood lit fires in buildings, broke down an internal wall and smashed windows during the chaos, forcing 200 staff to evacuate, officials said. Riot police armed with batons and shields, dog squad units and critical incident officers with body armor and tear gas were sent to quell the riot.

    Five prisoners required medical treatment for injuries including a broken jaw and dog bites following the riot at the Melbourne Remand Center that ended around 3 a.m. local time, Corrections Minister Wade Noonan said. The inmates have been transferred to other prisons while repairs begin, he said.

    One prison officer required treatment for exposure to pepper spray and another three sustained minor injuries that were not the result of direct interaction with inmates, the Victoria state prison department said.

    “I am deeply relieved that no one was seriously injured,” Noonan told reporters.

    Corrections Commissioner Jan Shuard said prisons across Victoria would remain locked down to avoid more riots.

    (SD-Agencies)