§ 113. Mr. Stanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now make a full statement on the prison riot in Palestine, stating during what hours the rioters were in control of the prison and could prevent any access to the condemned cell.
Mr. Creech JonesA riot between Arab and Jewish prisoners broke out in the Central Prison, Jerusalem, on the afternoon of 27th January. The immediate cause appears to have been the news of the kidnapping of Judge Windham at 12.25 p.m. and provocative insults shouted by Jewish prisoners. The riot was suppressed after a certain amount of material damage had been done, minor injuries having been received by the prison staff including the Superintendent, and by prisoners.
Rioting between Jewish and Arab prisoners again broke out in the prison on the following morning, 28th January, and was finally quelled with the use of tear smoke after the prison staff had summoned police reinforcements. During this second riot, a Jewish medical orderly was fatally injured, the prison Superintendent received a further head wound, and a number of Jewish and Arab prisoners also sustained injuries, some serious. Considerable material damage was done. An official inquiry into the disturbances has been instituted.