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| Gunmen storm Philippines prison | Gunmen storm Philippines prison |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Suspected Muslim rebels have stormed a jail in the southern Philippines, freeing at least 47 prisoners, officials have said. | |
| They said at least 25 attackers with guns and grenade launchers attacked the jail in Kidapawan city, about 960km (600 miles) south of Manila. | They said at least 25 attackers with guns and grenade launchers attacked the jail in Kidapawan city, about 960km (600 miles) south of Manila. |
| They blasted a hole in the prison's wall, before fleeing with the inmates. | They blasted a hole in the prison's wall, before fleeing with the inmates. |
| Reports say two people were wounded during the attack. The authorities have launched a massive manhunt. | Reports say two people were wounded during the attack. The authorities have launched a massive manhunt. |
| "We were caught with our pants down," Emmanuel Pinot, governor of the Mindanao region, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | "We were caught with our pants down," Emmanuel Pinot, governor of the Mindanao region, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. |
| "I have ordered police to shoot these very dangerous people if they will resist arrest. They are better dead than a menace to our communities," the governor said. | "I have ordered police to shoot these very dangerous people if they will resist arrest. They are better dead than a menace to our communities," the governor said. |
| Some of those who escaped faced serious charges, such as murder and kidnapping, officials said. | |
| Several of the escapees had been incarcerated for carrying out bombing campaigns for a separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that is currently supposed to be observing a ceasefire with the government. | |
| This is the second jail break on Mindanao in recent months. | |
| In December, armed men raided the Cotabato City prison, freeing several Muslim militants. |