Fremantle Prison riot

It was suggested that the riot and fire was staged as a diversion by twelve men including Brenden Abbott, to assist a mass escape from the prison.

[2]: 18–19 This incident added to growing tension amongst the prisoners from the heatwave experienced over the past week, with conditions like ovens or saunas.

The decision did not have the intended calming effect, instead allowing prisoner ring leaders to spread discontentment, and plan for a riot, including starting a fire and taking hostages.

[2]: 19 As division 3 prisoners were let inside at around 4 pm, a voice exclaimed "Let's take 'em",[3]: 59  and simultaneously, guards were splashed with boiling water, usually used for making tea.

[4]: 5  A horde of prisoners stormed the cellblock, attacking the guards with whatever they could find – metal plates and cutlery,[4]: 5  food,[2]: 19  "pieces of timber, buckets, water bottles, anything".

The prisoners withdrew to the exercise yard, taking six[5] hostages, as flames quickly overran the building, spread into the rafters, and caused the roof to collapse.

[3]: 60 The prisoners' leaders made three demands: a meeting with Attorney General Joseph Berinson, access to the media, and a guarantee of no retribution afterwards.

One of the hostages believed that "the media nearly got [them] killed", as the close approach of incoming aircraft caused other prisoners to panic, thinking that special forces were being deployed.

[2]: 20–22 The report suggested that little evidence supported the escape plan theory common in the media, but that the riot was largely the result of an incident of that morning involving the mistreatment of a prisoner and his subsequent release into three division yard.