Virus fears spark Thailand prison riot

This photo taken and released by Thailand Ministry of Justice on Sunday (March 29) shows the Buriram Prison after the prisoners' riot. Dozens of prisoners broke furniture and smashed windows during a riot in a Thai jail on Sunday sparked by fears of a coronavirus outbreak in the facility. - AFP

BANGKOK: Dozens of prisoners broke furniture and smashed windows during a riot in a Thai jail on Sunday sparked by fears of a Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak in the facility.

During the violence some convicts escaped from the Buriram prison where 2,000 are held, the justice ministry said. Seven have been arrested.