1990 Strangeways Prison riot trying to lock prisoners in their cells. Prisoners took over four of the jail's blocks and broke into the administration part of the prison, where they smashed computer equipment and set personal records alight. Riot officers entered the jail and secured the blocks after twelve hours of disturbance. 1990 Strangeways Prison riot The 1990 Strangeways Prison riot was a 25-day prison riot and rooftop protest at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, England. The riot began on 1 April 1990 when prisoners took control of the prison chapel, and the riot quickly spread throughout most of the prison. The riot and rooftop
Fremantle Prison riot spread into the rafters, and caused the roof to collapse. The prisoners surrounded their hostages, and in turn were besieged by an armed riot squad inside the prison, and the police riot encircled the prison. Skilled police negotiators communicated with the ring leaders, and by nightfall only five hostages remained. A sixth officer was to have been kept, but was released as he was seriously injured. Meanwhile, the fire brigade had trouble bringing the inferno in the main cell block under control. The prison's gate was too narrow for their trucks to pass, so they had to water the flames