Taliban attacks Afghan jail, releases all prisoners in Ghazni

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Taliban militants including bombers and gunmen, launched an assault on a prison in Ghazni, central Afghanistan, killing at least four police officers and freeing about 350 prisoners.

The deputy provincial governor of Ghazni province Mohammad Ali Ahmadi said the attackers were well-organised and wearing military uniforms.

One militant blew himself up at the prison gates, allowing others to force open jail cells, he said.

The Taliban confirmed it carried out the attack, in the early hours.

Both Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid and the deputy governor confirmed that three of the attackers were killed.

The deputy governor said seven police officers were also injured.

It was not immediately clear who the prisoners were nor where they had gone.

The similar type of attack was carried out by the militants in 2011, feeing nearly 500 prisoners – including many Taliban insurgents from a jail in Kandahar city, after a tunnel hundreds of metres long was dug from the outside.