Chaos after jail break, riot at juvenile prison

BANGKOK (AFP): More than 1,000 youths smashed through the walls of a juvenile prison today and fought a pitched battle with police in eastern Bangkok, causing chaos throughout the neighborhood. The trouble erupted when wardens announced security crackdowns after about 30 prisoners escaped by scaling the walls. About 1,300 youths went on the rampage following the announcement, smashing through the walls, and spilling onto the streets, television reports said. They grabbed sticks, bottles and other makeshift weapons, and attacked nearby policemen, injuring several as they ran wild through the neighborhood, reports said. About 100 armed riot police were dispatched to the scene, where they used tear gas to suppress the riot. Police sources told AFP the riot had been controlled and most of the youths recaptured, but a few were still on the run. Despite television scenes of bleeding policemen, police officers insisted that none of their number had been hurt.