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Canadian prison standoff ends; riot blamed on gang violence

Lockdown to continue at prison north of Winnipeg after weekend riot

The Canadian Press
Riot no surprise

STONY MOUNTAIN, Man. — A lockdown will continue until at least next week at Stony Mountain Institution, following a riot last weekend that sent six inmates to hospital.

As of Tuesday, three inmates remained in hospital in stable condition, although prison officials would not provide details around the nature of their injuries.

Three other inmates hurt during the riot have returned to the medium-security federal institution about 25 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

The prison has been under heavy security since the riot, which involved inmates barricading themselves inside a unit.

Correctional officers fought to gain control with pepper spray and displays of shotguns.

Meanwhile, Manitoba senior MP Vic Toews said he will speak to Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan about what steps can be taken across the country to contain gang violence behind bars.

Toews, president of the federal Treasury Board, said he did not have a specific remedy to the weekend violence at Stony Mountain, but did not rule out adding more cells.

That could ease concerns of overcrowding and help to better segregate rival gangs.

But the former Crown attorney added more jailhouse infrastructure is not the cure-all.

“Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn’t,” he said.

Copyright 2009 Press News Limited

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