The organisers have always said they expected 10, 000 competitors to register for the event in Northern Ireland - with police, fire and prison officers coming from 50 different countries.

BBC: World Police and Fire Games competitors 50% below target

Honduran media reported that there had been a riot in the prison before the fire broke out.

BBC: Honduras prison fire: Porfirio Lobo vows full inquiry

That has filled the jails: in May, 103 prisoners, most of them gang-members, died when fire swept through a grossly overcrowded prison in San Pedro Sula.

ECONOMIST: Youth gangs and drug barons: a marriage made in hell

Anyone convicted of threatening politicians or employees of the state such as fire-fighters or doctors and their families faces two years in prison and a fine of 30, 000 euros.

BBC: French MPs pass tough anti-crime law

Those responsible for yesterday's fire should be under no illusion that a conviction will frequently attract a significant prison sentence.

BBC: Rhondda arson: Clydach Vale ex-workingmen's club damaged

The coroner at the inquest concluded that Ms McGovern was likely to be in the process of leaving him and this, coupled with his fear of facing prison because of his illicit relationship, contributed to him starting the fire.

BBC: McElhill fire murder house in Omagh is demolished

The SDLP's Declan O'Loan said the motion was "misconceived" as it dealt with one part of the civil service and ignored organisations in which Protestants are over-represented such as the NI Fire and Rescue Service, the Policing Board, the PSNI, and the Prison Service.

BBC: Public Sector Recruitment

Department plans include shedding jobs, closing some police stations, reducing the prison population (finding custody alternatives) and reduce the scope of the island's fire and rescue services.

BBC: Isle of Man government outlines future cuts