Several killed in Iraq jail fight

Several killed in Iraq jail fight

Up to sixteen people have been killed after detainees at an Iraqi detention facility tried to overpower their guards, officials have said.

Sunday's incident occurred at the ministry of interior's Baghdad compound, designed to be one of the most secure facilities in the country.
A police source told Al Jazeera that the melee started after a prisoner grabbed a pistol and killed several police officers as he was being transferred between buildings. Other inmates then joined in, the source said.
Another official said security reinforcements arrived and killed the group trying to escape.
Six police officers and 10 inmates, including the one who first grabbed a weapon, were reportedly shot dead in the incident but there were conflicting reports on the exact death toll.
Several other detainees were injured and brought to Baghdad's al-Kindi hospital under tight security. They were taken away by security officials to an unidentified location after being treated, officials said.
It is the latest embarrassing incident for Iraq related to its detention facilities.
In January, 12 inmates were awaiting trial in a temporary detention centre in the southern city of Basra when they obtained uniforms and walked out in disguise. At least two were later picked up by security officials in northern Iraq.
PHOTO CAPTION
An Iraqi policeman searches a car at a checkpoint in Baghdad.
Al-Jazeera

Related Articles

Prayer Times

Prayer times for Doha, Qatar Other?
  • Fajr
    04:59 AM
  • Dhuhr
    11:45 AM
  • Asr
    02:48 PM
  • Maghrib
    05:09 PM
  • Isha
    06:39 PM