Prisoners cause DIY explosion at Strangeways, Manchester (UK)

via in the belly of the beast:

Inmates sparked a terror alert after a home-made bomb exploded in a cell at the category A Strangeways Prison in Manchester earlier this year.

The incident happened inside a cell on D Wing after prisoners used a plastic bottle and other household items available from the canteen to create a small IED. The noise is said to have ‘shook the whole wing’ although no-one was hurt and only a small amount of damage was caused.

A former inmate who witnessed it reportedly said, ‘One of the prisoners was boasting about how easy it was — and showed people how to do it. He was using everyday items you can get in a prison really easily.’

Officers from the North West Counter Terrorism Unit were scrambled to the prison in response. Prison bosses mounted an operation into the July 15 incident and are said to have accused eight prisoners of endangering staff and other inmates.

Although the incident occurred during the summer, details of the scare have only just come to light. A Prison Service spokeswoman said the bang had been caused by a ‘small improvised device’. They added: ‘On 15 July, an incident led to a very small amount of damage being caused to a cell. There were no injuries caused to staff or prisoners during this incident.’