Officer held hostage at top-security prison

(First Edition)

Police surrounded the top-security Perth jail, Tayside, last night after a prison officer was taken hostage. The Scottish Office said last night that an incident began in D Hall and that a prison officer was being held against his will by a group of prisoners. There were between 60 and 70 prisoners in the hall, which sustained some damage.

It said the officer did not appear to have suffered any injuries and that steps were being taken by SPS Incident Command teams to resolve the incident as safely and quickly as possible. The remainder of the prison was functioning as normal.