Inmates just overpowered guards and took control of a North Carolina jail.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said inmates overpowered staff at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center around 5 am, taking two correctional officers hostage. A third officer escaped and alerted authorities.
Over 20 local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI, responded to the scene as negotiators and tactical teams worked to end the standoff.
Officials said all hostages were safely released, no fatalities were reported, and everyone inside the facility is now accounted for. Several inmates and staff members suffered injuries and are receiving treatment.
The detention center housed 88 inmates at the time of the incident. Officials have since transferred inmates to other facilities while damage is assessed.
Authorities said there was never a threat to the public because the incident remained contained within the jail.
Investigators have not determined what sparked the takeover. The SBI said the investigation remains ongoing.
