Faribault prison on lockdown after inmate hurts 4 guards

The Minnesota Department of Correction's largest prison is on lockdown after an inmate punched an officer in the face Monday morning, the department confirms.

The attack happened around 11:30 a.m. in the dining hall for inmates in the Minnesota Correctional Facility — Faribault, according to the DOC.

A spokesperson said three guards who responded to the attack were also hurt and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Authorities are investigating the incident. The inmate was taken from the general prison population.

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"Our highest priority is the safety of our corrections officers and all individuals at our facilities," the DOC said in a statement.

Monday's incident comes as the union representing corrections officers in Minnesota prisons demands the state hire more guards to remedy what the union considers unsafe conditions.

In July, Joesph Gomm, a veteran guard at the Minnesota Correctional Facility — Stillwater, died after an inmate attacked him.

Gomm's family said he was "extremely worried" about workers' safety at the Stillwater prison. He was the first corrections officer to die in the line of duty.