Egypt's Interior Minister announced late on Wednesday three political prisoners were killed at Damanhour prison while rioting and allegedly attempting to escape. However, some inmates said the number of deaths exceeds ten.
Some of the inmates at the Damanhour prison, which includes around 3,000 prisoners, had set clothing on fire and “started rioting,” according to a ministry statement.
“Prisoners smashed the ward gates, in an attempt to escape, but the security forces dealt with them,” added the statement. Clashes left three dead and eight injured.
Inmates’ families had gathered outside the prison, according to the statement. Police and army warned prisoners against escaping, but they continued rioting and the police stepped in to control them, the official statement said.
The attorney general has been notified to start investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, a number of inmates told Al-Masry Al-Youm that at least ten prisoners were killed and that ministry had put Lieutenant Colonel Sami Zeitoun, head of prison investigations, back to work on Wednesday.
Inmates had called for Zeitoun’s dismissal during the 25 January revolution.
Medical sources said three bodies were received at the Damanhour public hospital’s morgue. Sabri abdel Hamid was one of those killed, but the other bodies had not yet been identified. Sources added that 11 injured were also transferred to the hospital.
A number of political prisoners are held at Damanhour prison, known as al-Abaadeya, including Abboud al-Zomorr, who was held on chrages of assassinating former President Anwar al-Sadat.
