At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in the Mozambican capital on Christmas Day following an uprising, the country’s police chief said, as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to roil the country. Police chief Bernardino Rafael said that 33 inmates were killed and 15 were injured in the clash with the security forces.
Prisoners escaped during violent protests that saw police cars, stations and infrastructure destroyed after the country’s Constitutional Council confirmed the October 9 election victory for the ruling Frelimo party.
The escape from Maputo Central Prison, located 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the capital, began at midday on Wednesday and began after a “movement” by a “group of subversive protesters” nearby, Rafael said. Some inmates at the facility wrested weapons from the guards and began freeing other inmates.
“An interesting fact is that we had 29 convicted terrorists in that jail, whom they released. We are concerned as a country, as Mozambique, as members of the defense and security forces,” Rafael said.
“They (protesters) were making noise demanding to be able to remove the prisoners who are serving their sentences there”, Rafael said, adding that the protest broke down the wall and allowed the prisoners to escape.
He asked the escaped prisoners to surrender to the authorities and inform the public about the escaped prisoners.
Videos circulating on social media show the moment prisoners leave the prison, while other recordings reveal seizures made by military personnel and prison guards. Many prisoners tried to hide in houses, but some failed and were detained again.
In one video, an inmate with handcuffs on his right hand says he was placed in the prison’s disciplinary section and released by other inmates.
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