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Argentine prison inmates take COs hostage to protest visitor ban

Visits were suspended in mid-March to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in prisons

dpa

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Inmates in at least six prisons in Argentina launched protests Saturday over bans on visitors.

Some of the protests turned violent. Prisoners took eight officers hostage at a penal facility in San Martin near the capital Buenos Aires on Saturday, TV channel TN reported.

In the Lomas de Zamora detention centre, five guards were held hostage by inmates.

All of the hostages were released later after an agreement was reached with the prison administration.

From November 14, relatives will be allowed to visit their relatives in prison.

However, strict hygiene regulations are to be observed. Visits were suspended in mid-March to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in prisons.

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