9 Cook County Jail inmates stabbed during fight

Nine Cook County Jail inmates have been hospitalized after an early morning fight in a maximum security wing.

Cook County sheriff's office spokesman Steve Patterson says the prisoners were stabbed in the arms and shoulders with homemade shanks. He says none of their injuries are serious.

Patterson says the nine were hurt during a fight between two gangs Wednesday. He says the same gangs were involved in a Jan. 13 brawl that sent three men to hospitals with "puncture" wounds and put the jail into lockdown.

Patterson says authorities believe the two incidents are related.

Cook County Jail collected 1,200 weapons from inmates in 2007 and about 600 in 2008.