Baghdad Prison Break Attempt: 17 Dead

Prison Mutiny Kills 17 in Baghdad

VoA News: Officials say an attempted prison mutiny in Iraq's Interior Ministry jail complex has left at least 17 people dead, including the head of counter-terrorism for eastern Baghdad.

Among the dead Sunday was an al-Qaida member, Huthaifa al-Battawi, who was accused of plotting an attack on a church last October that killed dozens of people.

Security officers said the violence broke out when one of the detainees — reported in some accounts to be al-Battawi — overpowered a security guard, took his weapon, and shot the guard to death.

The instigator then allegedly took hostages and then released a group of fellow inmates who are suspected al-Qaida members.

The prisoners are believed to have seized several other weapons before entering the office of the counter-terrorism official, Muaeid Mohammed Saleh, and killing him.

At least 10 prisoners and six guards were killed in the ensuing violence. Officials say guards regained control of the prison after killing a group of inmates as they tried to escape.

There has been an upsurge of violence in Iraq in recent weeks, with bombings and the assassination of government workers and security force leaders. Officials have been on alert for possible revenge attacks after U.S. forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden last week in Pakistan.