Fourteen prisoners claimed to have swallowed razor blades covered in tape because they were not allowed to attend a Winter Moods concert.

The concert, held on Sunday at the prison’s chapel yard, was the last of a string of summer cultural events for inmates.

For “security reasons”, only inmates housed in divisions closest to the yard were allowed to attend and some who were deemed a security risk were excluded.

“The event itself was uneventful. However, a small group of prisoners who were not able to attend allegedly swallowed shaving razor blades, possibly covered in adhesive tape, as a sign of protest,” the Home Affairs Ministry said.

The 14 inmates were examined in hospital and all returned to the prison.