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Delaware prison officer killed in hostage raid Delaware prison officer killed in hostage raid
(about 1 hour later)
Authorities have stormed a prison block in the US state of Delaware, ending a 24-hour hostage standoff that left one prison officer dead.Authorities have stormed a prison block in the US state of Delaware, ending a 24-hour hostage standoff that left one prison officer dead.
Another officer was rescued and taken to hospital as police raided C block at the James T Vaughn Correctional Center in the town of Smyrna. Another hostage was rescued and taken to hospital as police raided C block at the James T Vaughn Correctional Center in the town of Smyrna.
Prisoners took four officers and fellow inmates hostage on Wednesday. Prisoners took four staff and fellow inmates hostage on Wednesday.
One of the prisoners told a local newspaper they were protesting against US President Donald Trump.One of the prisoners told a local newspaper they were protesting against US President Donald Trump.
The rescued employee has been identified as a female member of the Delaware Department of Corrections. Sgt Steven Floyd, a 16-year veteran of the Department of Corrections, was found unresponsive after tactical teams used construction equipment to breach a wall and enter the building.
Officials say that she is in hospital, and is "alert and talking". Authorities have not said how he died.
"I'm praying hard for the fallen officer's family", Governor John Carney said in a statement. "My prayers all day yesterday was that this event would end with a different result. But it didn't," Governor John Carney said on Thursday morning.
"We will hold accountable anyone who was responsible. The governor called the situation "torturous" and promised a full investigation.
And we will make sure whatever changes are necessary to ensure nothing like it ever happens again." The rescued employee was found less than two minutes after the raid began.
She has been identified only as a female counsellor with the Delaware Department of Corrections.
Some inmates "actually shielded this victim and ensured her safety", said Robert Coupe, secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Officials say that she is in hospital, and is "alert and talking" after being rescued around 05:00 local time.
During the standoff, negotiators used a guard's radio to speak with the hostage-takers.
The radio communication was broadcast live over the internet, causing authorities to use a different radio frequency.
At one point authorities turned on the water, so that inmates could bathe and drink, however the inmates used the water to fill metal footlockers, which were then used to barricade prison hallways, officials said on Thursday.
Officials have not yet determined the attackers' motivation, but have said that weapons used were "sharp instruments".
Two of the prison employees and 46 inmates were released on Wednesday and overnight by the hostage-takers at the facility, which is the largest prison for men in the north-eastern state.Two of the prison employees and 46 inmates were released on Wednesday and overnight by the hostage-takers at the facility, which is the largest prison for men in the north-eastern state.
Three maintenance workers, hid in the basement and were not discovered by the hostage takers.
They were able to get to the roof late on Wednesday, and were rescued by tactical teams.
Earlier in the day, inmates called the News Journal newspaper in Wilmington to explain their actions and make demands.Earlier in the day, inmates called the News Journal newspaper in Wilmington to explain their actions and make demands.
In that call, an inmate said their reasons "for doing what we're doing" included "Donald Trump. Everything that he did.In that call, an inmate said their reasons "for doing what we're doing" included "Donald Trump. Everything that he did.
"All the things that he's doing now. We know that the institution is going to change for the worse.""All the things that he's doing now. We know that the institution is going to change for the worse."
He also demanded education, a better rehabilitation programme and called for inmates to be granted scrutiny of the prison budget.He also demanded education, a better rehabilitation programme and called for inmates to be granted scrutiny of the prison budget.
Robert Coupe, secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security, said authorities were not sure if all the inmates had been held against their will. Mr Coupe said authorities were not sure if all the inmates had been held against their will.
The prison houses 2,500 inmates and C Block holds more than 100 of them. All 120 inmates housed in the block should be considered "suspects" he said, adding that they were not "released" but rather may have chosen to leave C Block ahead of the raid.
It was not the first hostage situation at the prison.
In 2004, a 45-year-old inmate at the prison raped a counsellor and took her hostage for nearly seven hours, before he was shot dead by a sharpshooter.In 2004, a 45-year-old inmate at the prison raped a counsellor and took her hostage for nearly seven hours, before he was shot dead by a sharpshooter.