Taliban storm jail, free 355 inmates

GHAZNI, Afghanistan: Taliban insurgents stormed a prison in Afghanistan yesterday, killing police and releasing more than 350 inmates, including nearly 150 deemed a threat to national security, and then attacked troops rushing to help, officials said.

The latest Taliban prison raid, on the outskirts of the central city of Ghazni, comes after deadly attacks in Kabul.

A Reuters reporter outside the mud fort prison saw the bodies of two men who appeared to be suicide bombers and a blownup car. Clusters of bullet casings were scattered across the road.

The interior ministry said 355 of the 436 prisoners had escaped. Of those who got away, 148 were a “threat to national security”.

Four Taliban and four members of the security forces were killed in the attack. Seven police officers were injured.

On Sunday, officials concerned about a breakout had transferred 18 “dangerous” Taliban to a jail operated by the Afghan intelligence agency. Seventeen were left behind.

Mohammed Ali Ahmadi, deputy city governor, said: “Roads to the prison were covered with land mines in advance to avoid reinforcement.”

One security official said the attackers, armed with rocketpropelled grenades and automatic rifles, were wearing security force uniforms.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said gunmen and three suicide bombers attacked the prison at 2am.

Three bombers were killed, he said.

“Important mujahideen military officials have been freed,” he said. – Reuters