Libyan security officials said more than 1,000 detainees have escaped from a prison near the eastern city of Benghazi in a mass jailbreak.
A government security official in Benghazi, Mohammed Hejazi, said the jailbreak happened on Saturday at Koyfiya prison, as protesters stormed the offices of Islamist-allied parties in Libya’s main cities.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the jailbreak was part of the protests or if inmates received outside help.
A security official from the prison confirmed the jailbreak happened. He said most of the inmates were being held on serious charges.