Director of prison where inmate killed cook dismissed

The director of Mas d'Enric prison, Paco Romero, has been dismissed two weeks after a prisoner killed a cook at the centre. 

Following the tragic incident, Romero offered his seat and today the government accepted his resignation.

This is the first change in the leadership of Catalan prisons after the killing which sparked protests by prison staff across Catalonia. 

Protesting workers continue to demand the sacking or resignation of Justice Minister Gemma Ubasart and the secretary for penitentiary measures Armand Calderó. 

Prison workers report 100 assaults in 12 days

Prison workers protested again on Monday at the gates of Brians 2 prison near Barcelona in a new wave of demonstrations demanding increased security measures.

There, they denounced that there have been more than a hundred assaults on inmates and staff members in the last 12 days since the killing of a cook at the Mas d'Enric prison.

They explained that new attacks took place over the past weekend in the Ponent and Lledoners prisons.

Sources have confirmed that on Saturday an inmate scratched an official and hit another on the finger in Ponent, while on Sunday two Lledoners officials were hit in the face and chin by two different inmates.

However, Justice Department sources have denied that there have been that many attacks in such a short time. 

Prison workers block access to Catalan jails

The tragic incident, which occurred on March 13,  sparked protests across Catalan prisons.

Workers blocked the entrances to several Catalan prisons for three days, leaving thousands of inmates confined to their cells due to understaffing.

For hours, prisoners were unable to leave their cells, go outdoors, or receive visits from their families and lawyers.