| 2015 Ghazni prison escape | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | |||||||
 Ghazni province location | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Afghan National Police |  Taliban militants | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 4 policemen killed[1] | 7 militants killed[2] | ||||||
Taliban militants, wearing Afghan army uniform, stormed a prison outside the city ofGhazni in Afghanistan on 14 September 2015, freeing more than 355 inmates (out of 436 housed at the prison). At least 148 of the escapees were considered to be a serious threat tonational security.[3] According to the AfghanMinistry of Interior, of the inmates who escaped, 148 had been jailed for attacks on security forces, while 207 had been convicted for other crimes. Only three prisoners had been recaptured.[4]
"Around 2:30 am six Taliban insurgents wearing military uniforms attacked Ghazni prison. First they detonated a car bomb in front of the gate, fired anRPG and then raided the prison"
Gunmen and threesuicide bombers attacked the prison early in the morning of 14 September 2015. A Taliban spokesperson said that the group had carried out the attack and that gunmen and three suicide bombers were involved.[2]
At least four police guards were killed and seven others were wounded, and three Taliban fighters were also killed in the early morning battle. The interior ministry stated that 355 of the prison's 436 inmates escaped. Most were charged with crimes against national security and other criminal offences.[5]
"This successful operation was carried out at 2:00am and continued for several hours. The jail was under Taliban control. In this operation, 400 of our innocent countrymen were freed ... and were taken tomujahideen-controlled areas."
Taliban spokesmanZabihullah Mujahid assumed the responsibility for the attacks.[6]
