‘Several hundred inmates’ riot at Arizona prison in chaotic situation described as a ‘war zone’

Corrections officers in Arizona deployed “nonlethal munitions” inside a Phoenix-area prison to control a massive riot involving hundreds of inmates Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The chaos began after “several hundred inmates grouped together around staff and refused to disperse,” Arizona Department of Corrections spokeswoman Judy Keane said in a statement to the Daily News.

Family members of some of the inmates told local radio station KJZZ that officers fired pepper balls and rubber bullets at the crowd. One of the inmates said in an email to the outlet that windows were broken and it looked like the building had “exploded.”

“They came in with tear gas, flash bangs, pepper spray, and started shooting them at everyone,” the inmate reportedly said. “It was basically a war zone.”

The incident, which took place at the Eyman prison in the town of Florence, was under control by Wednesday evening.

Keane said there were no reports of injuries to inmates or staff.

“At no point was public safety jeopardized,” she said.

The unit remained under lockdown Thursday morning pending further investigation and assessment, according to her statement.