MANILA: Armed men, suspected to be Muslim rebels, raided a provincial jail in Kidapawan city in southern Philippines before dawn Friday, which led to at least 49 prisoners freeing themselves from the prison, according to police.
The attackers, nearly two dozen in combat uniforms and heavily armed, stormed the prison launching M-203 grenades and shot at jail guards at the entrance. One jail guard and a civilian were wounded in the attack.
According to senior police officials, the gunmen could be belonging to an outfit aligned with al Qaeda-linked Muslim militants or the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Their intention appeared to be to free three suspected bombers involved in the 2002 bomb attack in a bus terminal in Kidapawan city and who were lodged in the prison. The three, identified as Datu Ali Sultan, Kaer Mundos and Tukan Guindo, were among those who escaped in the melee. They were suspected to be members of a group called Jemaah Islamiah and faced multiple murder charges.
The police officials said a joint police and army team has been sent to track down the escaped prisoners and the assailants.
The prison housed 789 prisoners.
