Tear gas used during riot in Long Bay jail

Tear gas has been deployed following a riot at a prison in Sydney’s south.

Officers were forced to use tear gas to dispel a riot at Long Bay Correctional Complex on Monday about 12.30pm.

A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman told Yahoo News Australia corrective officers from Long Bay Hospital and Security Operations group responded after a fight broke out in one of the yards.

“Other inmates refused to obey officers’ directions and allow staff to go into that yard and stop the fight,” she said.

“Gas was deployed to safely secure those inmates.

“Inmates in another two yards then began refusing to obey staff directions. Gas was deployed with officers now safely securing those inmates.”

She added one inmate is being treated in hospital after being bitten by an officer’s dog “when he refused to drop a gaol-made weapon”.

The ABC reported that prisoners appeared to be preparing for a Black Lives Matter protest from what was visible in aerial footage of their exercise yard.

In the footage, prisoners could be seen kneeling near what appeared to be letters made of garments laid out on the ground.

However, the correctives services spokeswoman said “there is no indication the unrest was related to the Black Lives Matter protests”.

She said the fights were “drug-related”.

Residents of suburban areas near the jail complained they had felt the effects of the tear gas which was blown around by the wind.

One woman told the ABC she had a headache and her eyes burned.

“We could hardly breathe,” she said.

“You could feel it in your chest so (it was) pretty scary.”

She claimed neighbours out in a park near the jail had complained about the gas making them feel sick.

Another man told the ABC he had to wash his eyes out because they were stinging from the gas.

Corrective Services NSW apologised for any locals affected by the gas and said anyone affected can contact Long Bay jail.

Corrective Services NSW is investigating the incident. NSW Police have been notified, the spokeswoman said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.