8 staff members hurt in southeast Missouri prison attack

CHARELSTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Corrections says eight workers were hurt in an attack at a prison in the southeastern part of the state.

Department spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said in an email that 13 inmates at Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston attacked the staff members and "beat them badly for about 10 minutes." The attack happened around 5:46 p.m. on Tuesday.

The spokeswoman said the inmates were returning to their housing unit after the evening meal.

Seven of the officers received outside medical treatment and one other was taken to the hospital with a head injury. Pojmann said the other officer was still in the hospital as of Friday morning.

The department of corrections said the inmates were placed in administrative segregation. Each could face charges for the attack.

The prison was placed on lockdown during the incident. It's not clear what events if any led up to the attack.