Five hurt in fire at Jerusalem detention center

Firefighters say blaze may have been started by a prisoner, who was one of those taken to hospital for treatment

View of the entrance to the detention center in the Russian Compound, Jerusalem, file (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

Four prisoners and a guard in a Jerusalem holding facility suffered light injuries Friday night after a fire broke out at the site, possibly due to arson.

The injured in the incident in central Jerusalem’s so-called Russian Compound were all hurt by smoke inhalation. They were taken to Jerusalem hospitals for treatment.

Responding firefighters suspected the blaze was sparked by the burning of a mattress in one of the holding cells. The man believed to have started the fire was one of the victims.

Officials said the fire has been put out.

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