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Prisoners with Islamic State ties escape in eastern Iraq

 
The scene of a car bomb explosion that killed eight in Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday.
The scene of a car bomb explosion that killed eight in Baghdad, Iraq on Saturday.
Published May 10, 2015

BAGHDAD — At least 40 inmates, including prisoners with suspected links to the Islamic State, escaped a prison in eastern Iraq early Saturday morning after overpowering guards, Iraqi officials said.

Dozens of inmates and at least six guards were killed in the incident, which took place at the Khalis prison in Diyala province. In January, pro-government forces took control of the province from the Islamic State as part of a military offensive to win back the vast territory in Iraq that the extremist group seized in June.

In a sign of the chaos that continues to plague areas that have fallen under government control, officials gave conflicting reports of the number of people killed. Citing unnamed prison and police officials, the Reuters news agency reported that 50 inmates and 12 guards were killed.

But Saad Maan, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said by telephone that 30 prisoners and six guards were confirmed killed in the incident, which started when an inmate seized an unspecified weapon from a guard and went on a shooting spree.

"Forty people escaped, and nine are Daesh members," he said, using the Arabic name for the Islamic State.

Hakim al-Zamily, head of parliament's security committee, said 80 inmates with terrorism charges managed to escape. At least 30 inmates and six guards were killed, he said, describing the incident as a "major security lapse."