Policemen gather outside the gates of the Horizon Remand Centre during a riot at the institution yesterday. - Norman Grindley

There was unrest at the Horizon Remand Centre on Spanish Town Road, St Andrew, yesterday after at least 200 inmates broke from their cells.

Up to press time last night, no official word was given on the situation. But while on the scene, it was gathered that the inmates broke off locks from a number of cells and made their way into a corridor and also set fire to a section of the facility.

The prisoners were reportedly upset about the poor conditions at the remand centre in addition to a recent change is security personnel and other measures.

More than 100 Jamaica Constabulary Force and Jamaica Defence Force personnel had to be called in to help bring the situation under control.

Head of Correctional Services, June Spence-Jarrett, was said to be in a meeting when contacted. The Ministry of National Security dismissed the incident as an escape attempt.