Telegraph | News | Terrorist inmates seize wing of Kabul prison

Telegraph | News | Terrorist inmates seize wing of Kabul prison:

At least 30 prisoners have been wounded after inmates linked with al-Qa'eda and the Taliban seized control of a wing of a prison in Afghanistan.

A security official estimated that 1,500 inmates were involved in the incident, which took place in Kabul's main high security prison.

"It went out of control and a clash broke out between the prisoners, including many Taliban, and the police, in which 30 people have been wounded," he said.

The disturbance reportedly first erupted after prison authorities attempted to introduce a uniform for inmates.

Reacting to the attempts, prisoners led by Taliban and al-Qa'eda militants took two female guards captive.

Hundreds of police and troops took position outside the jail, backed by tanks and armoured cars.

Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai, Afghanistan's deputy justice minister, said four prisoners were wounded while trying to escape from the prison.

"I have also heard that 20 more prisoners have been wounded, but the people behind this unrest are not ready to hand them over to us for treatment," he said.

He said the situation was under control, but the riot was not over.

"Taliban and al-Qa'eda members from different countries are behind this unrest," he told Reuters. "They still control the wing from where they had started the riot."

Gunfire were heard from within the compound on the eastern outskirts of Kabul last night stretching into this morning.

Related post: prison, inmates, riot, seize, alqaeda, taliban, escape