At least 15 prisoners poisoned during Easter ceremony at HMP Lewes
At least 15 prisoners at HMP Lewes have been hospitalised after a suspected mass poisoning.
Inmates and officers became ill after attending a religious service – with two prisoners at the Sussex prison said to be in a life-threatening condition.
The prison has been put in lockdown while authorities investigate.
It’s believed the victims all ate food prepared for the religious service – but it’s not yet been confirmed whether the event was a Catholic mass to mark Maundy Thursday.
Emergency services were first called to the prison at about midday, and there is currently a chemical incident van parked up outside.
A green contamination tent was pictured outside Eastbourne Hospital, where the inmates are believed to have been taken for treatment. The hospital has since been stood down.
A source at HMP Lewes said: ‘They all got sick after going to a religious event at a chapel service with food at the end of it.
‘A significant amount of staff and prisoners have been taken ill.
‘It’s either a case of food poisoning or spiking, but it’s happened far too quickly for it just to be food poisoning.
‘It sounds like food prepared in the kitchen has been spiked.’
Sussex Police says it’s assisting the ambulance service following a report of a ‘medical incident’ at HMP Lewes.
South East Coast Ambulance Service said in a statement: ‘We can confirm we are attending an incident at HMP Lewes reported to us at approximately midday today, March 28.’
A spokesperson for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Eastbourne hospital, said: ‘Earlier today, Eastbourne District General Hospital was stood up to potentially receive casualties following an incident at HMP Lewes.
‘We have now been stood down. Care at the hospital has not been affected, and continues to operate as usual.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted the Ministry of Justice for more information.
Additional reporting by Barry Keevins.
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