BAGHDAD: At least 36 people were killed and 40 inmates escaped in a bloody prison break north of the Iraqi capital for which the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility on Saturday.

The interior ministry said six guards and 30 detainees were killed on Friday while 40 inmates escaped from the police compound prison in Khalis, around 50 kilometres from Baghdad.

“One of the prisoners seized a weapon from a guard. After killing him, the inmate headed up to the weapons storage and seized more weapons,” spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said.

“Clashes erupted inside. We lost a first lieutenant and five policemen, forty prisoners fled. Nine of them were held on terror charges and the rest for common crimes,” he said.

Brig Gen Maan added that 30 prisoners who had been held on terrorism charges were killed in the clashes.

The IS gave its own account, in a statement posted on militant forums, and claimed that it simultaneously targeted police outside the prison.

“Brothers inside the Khalis prison were able to coordinate with brothers outside the prison,” the group said.

“Fifteen IEDs (improvised explosive devices) were detonated against army and police convoys and vehicles around the prison,” the statement said.

“Our brothers managed to take control of the weapons storage and attack the apostates, killing many ... More than 30 knights of the Islamic State were freed,” it said.

Iraq has been plagued by several prison breaks over the past two years, including in the early days of a huge June 2014 offensive by IS.

The militants freed and recruited hundreds of inmates, including in the cities of Tikrit and Mosul.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2015

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