Inmates at St. Louis jail set fires over COVID-19 restrictions

Inmates at the City Justice Center in downtown St. Louis, U.S. Midwest state of Missouri, took over a section of the jail and injured a corrections officer, reported Xinhua, quoting local media.

The incident began around 2:30 a.m. Saturday on the fourth floor of the jail. The prisoners yelled, broke windows, threw chairs and other items out of broken windows and started a small fire inside the jail.

A male corrections officer was injured and taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

Dozens of law enforcement officers are working to bring the situation under control, local media quoted Jacob Long, a spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson.

The disturbance probably occurred over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions that have limited visits and stalled court proceedings, officials said.

There were 633 inmates at the jail by Friday, local media reported.