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Escape from UK-run prison in Iraq | Escape from UK-run prison in Iraq |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Eleven detainees have escaped from a British military prison in southern Iraq, the British Army has said. | Eleven detainees have escaped from a British military prison in southern Iraq, the British Army has said. |
Ten of them had "swapped" places with visitors over the past week, an Army spokesman said. | Ten of them had "swapped" places with visitors over the past week, an Army spokesman said. |
Their disappearance from the Shuaiba military base, west of the southern city of Basra, was only noticed on Friday. | Their disappearance from the Shuaiba military base, west of the southern city of Basra, was only noticed on Friday. |
A UK military spokesman confirmed that the escape plot had involved prisoners making "a change of clothes". | |
'Embarrassing incident' | 'Embarrassing incident' |
Major David Gell said British forces became aware of the disappearance at 1700 local time (1400 GMT). | |
He added: "Clearly we're very unhappy about it, it's a regrettable incident. | |
"An investigation was undertaken straight away and we became aware that it was a very coordinated escape involving ten people and an exchange of clothes. " | |
A security source told the agency that the prisoners had been held without charge for the past two years. | A security source told the agency that the prisoners had been held without charge for the past two years. |
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood, who is in Basra with the British Army, described it as "a very embarrassing incident" for the army. | BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood, who is in Basra with the British Army, described it as "a very embarrassing incident" for the army. |
It appeared that 10 of the detainees had swapped clothes with visitors and walked out of the prison, he said. | It appeared that 10 of the detainees had swapped clothes with visitors and walked out of the prison, he said. |
He added: "It does not speak of very tight security given that the British Army says these people were considered to pose a threat to the security of Iraq and to the multi-national forces." | He added: "It does not speak of very tight security given that the British Army says these people were considered to pose a threat to the security of Iraq and to the multi-national forces." |
Thousands of Iraqis are held in US and British-run prisons across Iraq for security reasons. | Thousands of Iraqis are held in US and British-run prisons across Iraq for security reasons. |