6,000 prisoners escaped from a maximum security prison in Mozambique. What you need to know – National
At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique's capital on Christmas Day after a coup, the country's police chief said, as post-election riots and violence swept the country.
Police chief Bernardino Rafael said that 33 prisoners died and 15 were injured during the clash with the security forces.
The prisoners escaped during violent protests that saw the destruction of police vehicles, stations and infrastructure after the country's Constitutional Council confirmed that the ruling Frelimo party won the October 9 election.
The escape from the Maputo Central prison, located 14 kilometers southwest of the capital, began in the early hours of Wednesday after a “chaos” by a group of “protesters” nearby, Rafael said.
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Some inmates at the facility grabbed the weapons from the guards and started freeing other inmates.
“The surprising fact is that in that prison we had 29 terrorists who were convicted of crimes, and they were released. We are concerned as a country as the people of Mozambique as members of the defense and security forces,” said Rafael.
“They (the protestors) were making noise wanting to be able to get out the prisoners who are already serving their sentences,” said Rafael, adding that the protests led to the collapse of the wall, which caused the prisoners to escape.
He urged the escaped prisoners to surrender to the authorities and inform the public about the escapees.
Videos circulating on social media show inmates being released from prison, while other recordings reveal photos taken by soldiers and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in the houses, but some failed and ended up being locked up again.
In another video, an inmate with handcuffs on his right wrist says he was detained in the disciplinary area of the prison and released by other inmates.
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