Afghanistan

More than 1,100 prisoners escape after suicide attack

Article published on the 2008-06-14 Latest update 2008-06-14 08:58 TU

Kandahar prison, after the attack
(Credit: Reuters)

More than 1,100 prisoners have escaped from a prison in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, after a Taliban suicide truck bomb attack broke the entrance and a large part of the wall, NATO officials said Saturday. Afghan national security forces and the multi-national force have cordoned off the area to re-establish security and recapture the escapees.

At least 15 security guards died in the attack, according to Afghan officials earlier.A state of emergency has been called in the city.

At least 15 high-ranking Taliban commanders were reported to have escaped.According to one Western source, the sophisticated attack was a "success".

The Taliban attacked earlier this year at a military parade and at a five star hotel in Kabul.