Chaos in Avellino Prison: Fire and Protests

A Neapolitan inmate set fire to his cell in the Avellino prison. The smoke spread everywhere, and only the timely intervention of the Penitentiary Police staff allowed the fire to be extinguished. The intervening officers had to seek medical treatment for inhaling the smoke caused by the fire. Another inmate, of North African origin with psychiatric issues, confined in the Infirmary Department, staged a protest over trivial reasons. "The inmate in question, taking advantage of the gate being open for the delivery of food, managed to exit the Department, forcefully pushing the police officer in charge of surveillance and observation. Once in the atrium, he was promptly stopped by another penitentiary officer who was injured in the hand," denounces Tiziana Guacci, regional secretary for Campania of the Autonomous Penitentiary Police Union SAPPE. Who adds: "The situation is unsustainable." Donato Capece, general secretary of SAPPE, expresses solidarity with the Avellino Penitentiary Police Department and the intoxicated and injured agents: "This cannot go on any longer: it's a continuous drip," accuses Capece.