The Taliban has stormed a prison in central Afghanistan, freeing over 400 inmates, officials say.
Afghan officials say Taliban insurgents have freed more than 400 inmates after storming a mud fort being used as a prison in the central city of Ghazni.
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The group confirms it carried out the attack.
Around 80 prisoners have been recaptured, however a 150 Taliban members are said to be among those still on the run.
Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, Ghazni’s Deputy Governor outlined the incident:
“Six armed men in military uniforms entered the prison. First they broke the lock of the prison’s main entrance, then they shouted to the prisoners ‘We are the Taliban. We have come to free you from this jail’.”
Seven Taliban members and four from the security forces are believed to have been killed in the attack.
The deputy governor said security was light at the prison, due to its close proximity to Ghazni and back-up troops. However, he added, they were hindered by landmines littering the roads leading to the prison, which blew up a reinforcement vehicle.
The Taliban is battling to overthrow President Ashraf Ghani’s foreign-backed government, expel foreign forces from Afghanistan and impose a hardline interpretation of Islamic law in the country.