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Source: The Independent (07/02/2023)
Syria: Members of ISIS escape ‘Black Prison’ after earthquake devastates area
Some twenty former members of ISIS have escaped a prison located in Rajo in northeastern Syria after powerful earthquakes devastated the region and neighbouring Turkey.
At least twenty prisoners, believed to be jihadi militants, have escaped from a prison in Syria. The escape was enabled by the recent earthquake that damaged the prison, a source at the facility told Agence-France Presse.
Known as the “Black Prison” the military police prison was located in the town Rajo, in northwestern Syria near the Turkish border. Controlled by pro-Turkish factions it holds roughly 2,000 inmates, of which about 1,300 are suspect of being former members Isis alongside fighters from Kurdish-lead forces.
The region was hit by two major earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale at 4:17 am and 1:24pm local time causing widespread devastation. After the first earthquake hit the prison buildings were damaged with walls and doors cracking, providing prisoners with an opportunity.