Islamic State jailbreak in Afghanistan kills 24
At least 24 people were killed after a jailbreak involving Islamic State fighters led to a gunfight with Afghanistan’s security forces on Monday (August 3).
The attack began on Sunday (August 2) evening with when a car bomb was detonated at the entrance to the prison in the eastern city of Jalalabad.
Numerous other blasts were heard as around 30 I.S. gunmen opened fire on security guards.
Three militants were killed during the first attack and overnight gun battle.
At least 21 civilians and members of security forces also died in the fighting, with dozens more injured.
The prison housed some 2,000 inmates with officials saying that by noon on Monday at least 1,000 had been caught. They did not say how many were still at large.
The whole city of Jalalabad is now under curfew. Shops are closed and streets are mainly deserted.
I.S. claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said special forces killed a senior commander of the group operating in the region.
