16 dead in failed Kazakhstan jailbreak

July 12th, 2011 - 10:18 pm ICT by IANS  

Moscow, July 12 (IANS) At least 16 prisoners were killed when they detonated an oxygen canister after a failed jailbreak in Kazakhstan, officials said Tuesday.

The officials said the inmates detonated the canister when special forces approached the prison building in Balkhash town Monday, Xinhua reported.

One prison guard was killed in the attempted breakout.

“They blew themselves up when a police operation was underway. All 16 bodies have been retrieved from under the rubble,” said a justice ministry official.

The ministry said the prisoners had mounted an armed assault at a sentry post.

The prisoners were all serving sentences for grave crimes, including murder and rape.

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