Thaindian News

Baghdad, Aug 6 (IANS) Three policemen and three inmates were killed in a prison break attempt in Iraq’s central city of Hilla, Xinhua reported Saturday.

The incident occurred Friday evening when prisoners managed to seize some weapons and clashed with the guards and then controlled part of the prison’s compound, Haider Zanbour, a member of Babil’s provincial council, told reporters.

The clashes resulted in the killing of three prisoners and three guards and wounding of eight other prisoners, Zanbour said, adding that some 20 prisoners managed to escape from the prison, some of them were wearing police uniforms.

The prison holds some 1,200 prisoners, including some leaders of Al Qaeda militant group and some insurgent groups, he said.

The heavy gunfire inside and around the prison lasted over an hour after midnight, he added.

“The situation in the prison is now under control after reinforcement troops from Baghdad have been dispatched to the city,” said Zanbour, who heads the security committee of the provincial council.