Official: Prisoners Riot, Take Hostages in New Orleans

[Squatch]

Oh...Great

Aug. 30, 2005 — Inmates at a prison in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans have rioted, attempted to escape and are now holding hostages, a prison commissioner told ABC News affiliate WBRZ in Baton Rouge, La.

Orleans Parish Prison Commissioner Oliver Thomas reported the incident to WBRZ.

A deputy at Orleans Parish Prison, his wife and their four children have been taken hostage by rioting prisoners after riding out Hurricane Katrina inside the jail building, according to WBRZ.

[AuntiBush]

1. Caught shots of these Prisons on CNN earlier.

They were stuck in waters rising to their feet with no where to go. Others were still inside and waving shirts for help to the helicopter.

Maybe that's why they're rioting. They're scared. They want to be rescured from drowning! That was a horrific site. On CNN earlier this afternoon.

And the first thing I thought about was Freepers saying, awww, let um die.

[Maat]

2. I pray for their safety.

Hopefully, they won't make the parents watch their children be harmed.

Hopefully, the hostage-takers will show compassion.

[hiley]

3. oh no

what else can happen?

[Mojambo]

4. It has got to feel like the end of the world down there

I'm not sure I could cast judgment on anyone for doing anything in such circumstances.

What a terrible couple of days with many, many more to come.