6 kill selves after failed jailbreak in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Six inmates led by a mob boss committed suicide at a prison in Taiwan early yesterday after a failed breakout attempt in which they seized weapons and held a warden and guards hostage, officials said. All the hostages were released.

The inmates started their attempt on Wednesday afternoon in Kaohsiung City.

In a telephone interview with a newspaper during the overnight standoff, the 46-year-old ringleader said the six had long planned the move and were prepared to die.

He also complained about long sentences and unfairness in the granting of medical paroles.

Demands rejected

Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang said officials rejected the group’s demands for safe passage out of the prison and had tried to convince them to surrender peacefully during hours of negotiations.

“We tried to give them assurances so they wouldn’t do something stupid and to reconsider, but sadly they committed suicide and we feel deep regret,” Chen told a news conference in Taipei.

Chen said five prison staff were slightly injured in the standoff, but did not elaborate.

By the pre-dawn hours, the inmates had released all hostages, except the warden. They then shot themselves, and the warden was able to walk free, Chen said.

No video of suicide

The ministry did not offer any video or other evidence of the suicides, but there was no sign during the standoff of a raid by police who ringed the Kaohsiung Prison in scenes that were broadcast by Taiwan stations.

Chen said four of the inmates shot themselves first and that the remaining two had fired addi- tional shots at them to make sure they were dead before shooting themselves, at about 5:30 a.m. yesterday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the inmates took four rifles, six handguns and more than 200 bullets from the prison’s armory, the ministry said.

The inmates ranged in age from 37 to 63 and were serving sentences for homicide, burglary and drug crimes.