Demolition of Spandau Prison Begins

Workers began dismantling parts of the Spandau Prison on Wednesday, a little more than two weeks after its last inmate, Rudolf Hess, hanged himself there.

About a dozen workers began removing windows and skylights, witnesses said.

The British, who control the Spandau site, had said previously that an unspecified West Berlin demolition firm would carry out the major part of the destruction work.

British officials say they plan to build a shopping center on the site.

Hess, 93, committed suicide on the grounds of Spandau on Aug. 17, according to British officials. Hess had been Spandau’s lone inmate since 1966.