(ANSA) - Foggia, march 9 - Some 20 inmates managed to break out of Foggia prison in a riot Monday morning, local sources said.

In all, 50 inmates got out but police succeeded in stopping about 30 of them.

Shop keepers in the area were told to close their shops.

Violent protests broke out Monday in 27 Italian prisons against coronavirus restrictions with many inmates asking for an amnesty due to the virus emergency.

Serious riots are taking place at San Vittore in Milan and Rebibbia in Rome where, as well as burning mattresses, some inmates attacked the infirmaries.

A riot is also ongoing at the prison in Foggia, while there has been an attempted break-out at the Ucciardone in Palermo, sources said Monday.

In Foggia, several inmates have managed to get out after tearing up a gate at the block house and are in the road outside, where they have been blocked by police.

Many inmates are scaling the perimeter gates too.

Some prisoners took to the roofs and have started a fire there.

Far to the north in Verona prison, two inmates have died after ingesting psychoactive drugs they stole during a protest over the weekend.

In Milan, at San Vittore, inmates also took to the roofs to protest recent coronavirus restrictions on visits.

There were violent protests by prisoners in Italy's jails against the restriction of face time with visiting relatives due to the coronavirus.

One of the worst revolts was in Pavia prison south of Milan.

The inmates devastated the facility on Sunday.

They were persuaded to return to their cells after a long and tough negotiation Sunday night.

Three deaths were reported in Modena prison, but they were said not to be linked to the riot there.

In all, six deaths of inmates were reported at Modena including three inmates who had been moved to other jails in Parma, Alessandria and Verona.

Four inmates were reportedly in intensive care on Monday there.

There was tension in Naples and Frosinone too.

