Dutch Guards Investigated in Fatal Airport Fire

Prosecutors are investigating two prison guards who worked at a jail in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on suspicion of criminal negligence in a fire last year that killed 11 illegal immigrants awaiting deportation, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The two, whose names were not released, are also subject of a civil suit brought by relatives of the victims, said Michiel van der Heijden, spokesman for the prosecutors' office.

The Oct. 27 fire raised concerns that the government - elected on a wave of public discontent over crime and immigration - had sacrificed safety standards when it ordered the complex's rapid construction in 2002.

All prison guards involved have denied any negligence, as have firefighters, the Justice Ministry, safety watchdog groups, builders, and the city which was responsible for safety checks.

Police have arrested a Libyan prisoner identified as 24-year-old Achmed Issa Al-J., who was badly burned in the fire, on suspicion of deliberately starting the blaze.

Several investigations into the incident are ongoing.

According to a report published in Dutch newspaper Trouw on Tuesday, the guards under investigation opened the door of the cell where the fire began, in order to save the prisoners inside. According to the report, this was against official protocol and may have allowed the fire to spread.

Van der Heijden said he could not confirm that account, which was put forward by the plaintiffs in the civil suit, and added it was not certain the guards will face criminal charges.

The victims were illegal immigrants or suspected drug smugglers from Suriname, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Dominican Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.

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