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Prison Guards Attacked, 1 Has Broken Back

DELANO (AP) -- Officials say two California prison guards are recovering after they were attacked by about a dozen inmates, though one suffered a broken back.

They said Monday that the inmates began punching and kicking the two Kern Valley State Prison correctional officers in the dayroom of a minimum-security dormitory on Saturday.

Other officers used pepper spray to break up the assault.

Both guards were treated at an outside hospital for injuries to their hands, knees and faces and released the same day.

One also has broken vertebrae in his back, a broken nose and a concussion and will be off work for an extended period of time.

Six inmates were treated at the prison for bruises and small cuts.

Investigators are trying to identify all the attackers.

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