At least a dozen prisoners -- including some Al Qaeda-linked inmates on death row -- have escaped from a prison near Baghdad.
Iraqi police say the inmates managed to escape through windows in their cells at Taji prison, about 25 kilometers from Baghdad, early on the morning of January 11.
The inmates reportedly seized the weapons of guards in two observation towers before breaking out of the prison compound.
All of the escapees were convicted on terrorism charges.
A guard chief at Taji prison told The Associated Press news agency that some prison guards have been detained and were being questioned to see if they helped the prisoners escape.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces have launched a search in the area to try to recapture the escapees.
Iraqi police say the inmates managed to escape through windows in their cells at Taji prison, about 25 kilometers from Baghdad, early on the morning of January 11.
The inmates reportedly seized the weapons of guards in two observation towers before breaking out of the prison compound.
All of the escapees were convicted on terrorism charges.
A guard chief at Taji prison told The Associated Press news agency that some prison guards have been detained and were being questioned to see if they helped the prisoners escape.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces have launched a search in the area to try to recapture the escapees.
