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Prison break as 6,000 inmates escape jail with 33 dead and 15 others injured
At least 6,000 inmates have escaped from a maximum security prison in Mozambique after a mass jail break, leaving 33 prisoners dead and 15 others injured after violent clashes with security forces
A massive jail break in Mozambique has resulted in at least 6,000 inmates fleeing a maximum security facility, leaving 33 prisoners dead and 15 others injured following violent clashes with security forces. The escape from the prison in Maputo, the country's capital, occurred on Christmas Day after a rebellion, according to the nation's police chief.
This comes as the country is being ravaged by post-election riots and violence. Police Chief Bernardino Rafael revealed the prisoners escaped during violent protests which have led to the destruction of police cars, stations and infrastructure after the Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the October 9 elections.
The mass prison breakout from Maputo Central Prison, situated approximately nine miles southwest of the capital, began around midday on Wednesday due to "agitation" by a "group of subversive protesters" nearby, stated Rafael.
The country has been plunged into violence since the highest court confirmed Daniel Chapo, the ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate, as the winner of the disputed October 9 elections on Monday.
Some of the detainees at the facility managed to seize weapons from the guards and began liberating other prisoners. Rafael added: "A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defence and security forces," reports the Mirror.
"They [protesters] were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences", said Rafael. He added the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to escape.
He urged the escaped prisoners to give themselves up to the authorities and called for the public to stay informed about the fugitives. Social media videos captured the moment inmates fled the prison, while other footage showed captures by military personnel and prison guards.
Many escapees tried to conceal themselves in homes, but some were caught and re-detained. In another video, an inmate with handcuffs still on his wrist claimed he was released from the disciplinary section by fellow prisoners.
Mozambique's Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda addressed the chaos at a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday, attributing the violence to predominantly young supporters of defeated candidate Venancio Mondlane, who garnered 24% of the vote, trailing behind Chapo with 65%.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the unrest and has called on all political leaders and relevant parties "to defuse tensions including through meaningful dialogue (and) legal redress," according to U. N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay on Thursday. The UN chief also demanded an end to the violence and intensified efforts "to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis," she stated.
Daily Star Sunday
At least 6,000 inmates have escaped from a maximum security prison in Mozambique after a mass jail break, leaving 33 prisoners dead and 15 others injured after violent clashes with security forces
A massive jail break in Mozambique has resulted in at least 6,000 inmates fleeing a maximum security facility, leaving 33 prisoners dead and 15 others injured following violent clashes with security forces. The escape from the prison in Maputo, the country's capital, occurred on Christmas Day after a rebellion, according to the nation's police chief.
This comes as the country is being ravaged by post-election riots and violence. Police Chief Bernardino Rafael revealed the prisoners escaped during violent protests which have led to the destruction of police cars, stations and infrastructure after the Constitutional Council confirmed the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the October 9 elections.
The mass prison breakout from Maputo Central Prison, situated approximately nine miles southwest of the capital, began around midday on Wednesday due to "agitation" by a "group of subversive protesters" nearby, stated Rafael.
The country has been plunged into violence since the highest court confirmed Daniel Chapo, the ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate, as the winner of the disputed October 9 elections on Monday.
Some of the detainees at the facility managed to seize weapons from the guards and began liberating other prisoners. Rafael added: "A curious fact is that in that prison we had 29 convicted terrorists, who they released. We are worried, as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defence and security forces," reports the Mirror.
"They [protesters] were making noise, demanding that they be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences", said Rafael. He added the protests led to the collapse of a wall, allowing the prisoners to escape.
He urged the escaped prisoners to give themselves up to the authorities and called for the public to stay informed about the fugitives. Social media videos captured the moment inmates fled the prison, while other footage showed captures by military personnel and prison guards.
Many escapees tried to conceal themselves in homes, but some were caught and re-detained. In another video, an inmate with handcuffs still on his wrist claimed he was released from the disciplinary section by fellow prisoners.
Mozambique's Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda addressed the chaos at a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday, attributing the violence to predominantly young supporters of defeated candidate Venancio Mondlane, who garnered 24% of the vote, trailing behind Chapo with 65%.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the unrest and has called on all political leaders and relevant parties "to defuse tensions including through meaningful dialogue (and) legal redress," according to U. N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay on Thursday. The UN chief also demanded an end to the violence and intensified efforts "to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis," she stated.
Daily Star Sunday