Police storm Bali prison, restore calm

KEROBOKAN, Indonesia, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Police stormed Kerobokan Prison in Bali Wednesday and took control of the facility, now under lockdown after several days of violence, officials said.

Law enforcement officials said three inmates were injured during the operation to restore calm, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials said the unrest began Sunday when a fight broke out among several inmates. When prison guards tried to break up the fight, prisoners fought back with knives and rocks. The violence renewed Tuesday when buildings were set on fire and guards abandoned their posts, officials said.

Ketut Untung Sayoga, deputy chief of police in Bali, said police arrived at Kerobokan Prison late Tuesday to make sure prisoners didn't escape, but waited until Wednesday to storm the facility, CNN reported.

The riot occurred in a block separate from where foreign inmates are housed, Sayoga said. None of the 60 foreign prisoners was harmed, he said.

ABC said there was ill-will among inmates and prisoners had complained about not having equal access to healthcare and living conditions.

Twelve Australians, including convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby and the so-called Bali Nine drug smuggling ring, are among the inmates.