Armed prison rebellion thwarted

Police and prison officials pre-emptively broke up what was termed a "mass rebellion" in several different prisons, confiscating scores of weapons earlier this month.

"The Prison Service of the ČR uncovered in some organizational units the preparation of a mass rebellion by sentenced persons," the prison service said in a statement. "In connection, a number of preventive security measures were taken including cooperation with Police ČR, and the threat is now completely eliminated. For security reasons, we cannot provide more information."

Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil has confirmed the incident, although he declined to provide details.

Prima TV broke the story Oct. 17 and cited anonymous sources in fingering the infamous Berdych gang as the masterminds of the prison-break plan. According to the report, the first of the rebellions was slated for Prague's Pankrác Prison in early October. Inmates planned to take control of the prison command center to prevent prison officials from calling in reinforcements, before moving on to the prison armory. Prison guards have reportedly confiscated scores of weapons in recent weeks, including firearms.

"They were mostly items [the inmates] had produced themselves," Pospíšil said, denying weapons were smuggled into the prison or that any guns were involved.

He said he had known about the plot for about a week.

The Berdych gang saw organized crime figures co-opt police detectives in a series of robberies, kidnappings and blackmail schemes beginning in 1995. Gang members often disguised themselves in police uniforms as they committed crimes. It is considered the single-largest case in the Czech underworld, and more than 50 people have been charged in connection.

A Justice Ministry official called the Berdych gang's involvement "pure speculation."   

Prima TV reported that details of the case were first brought to prison officials by the Counterintelligence Service (BIS), but a BIS official refused to confirm this while also not denying the group had shared information.

As of press time, little is know as to how inmates were communicating from prison to prison. However, the Prison Service has confirmed the plot extended to more than one facility.

- Filip Šenk contributed to this report.

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com