At least 22 “terrorism” suspects escaped a Baghdad detention facility on Friday after killing two guards, though most were later recaptured, security officials said.
The escapees were the latest in a long line of jailbreaks in Iraq, including coordinated assaults claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group on two prisons in July, in which more than 500 inmates broke out and dozens of people were killed.
Accounts varied regarding the number of detainees who escaped from the facility in the north Baghdad area of Kadhimiyah on Friday.
A police colonel said detainees had seized weapons from guards early on Friday, killing two, after which 26 people arrested for “issues related to terrorism” escaped.
Security forces killed one detainee and captured 14, the colonel said, and a medical official confirmed two guards and a detainee had been killed.
An interior ministry official said eight escapees were still on the run, while the ministry itself issued a statement saying 22 suspects had escaped with one killed and all but three captured.
In July, militants launched coordinated assaults on two prisons near Baghdad, sparking clashes with security forces that lasted for hours. More than 500 prisoners, including senior al-Qaeda leaders, escaped.

Officials: ‘terrorism’ suspects escape in Baghdad

Iraqi soldiers arrest suspected militants during a raid and weapons search operation in North Babil province, October 27, 2013. (Reuters)
AFP, Baghdad
Friday 13 December 2013
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:42 - GMT 06:42
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