Al-Qaeda suspects escape from high-security prison

The Times ^ | July 12, 2005 | Catherine Philp

[MadIvan]

FOUR prisoners described as dangerous enemy combatants escaped from the main American military base in Afghanistan yesterday, the latest embarrassment for commanders there who were already struggling with their worst military losses in four years.

A huge manhunt, using helicopters and American ground forces, was under way after the four men were discovered missing from the heavily fortified prison at the Bagram air base, north of Kabul.

American military officials would not comment on the identities of the men but an Afghan official said that they were all from Arab countries and suspected al-Qaeda members. Kabir Ahmed, the district chief of Bagram, identified the men as Abdullah Hashimi, from Syria, Mehmood Ahmed Mohammed, from Kuwait, Mehmood Alfathani, from Saudi Arabia, and Mohammed Hassan, from Libya.

The escape comes less than two weeks after 19 soldiers died in a botched mission in the restive east of the country, 16 of them in a helicopter shot down by Taleban fighters. It was the single biggest combat loss for the Americans since the invasion in 2001.

Dozens of American troops could be seen stopping and searching vehicles yesterday around the sprawling air base and in neighbouring villages while helicopters flew overhead checking for signs of the prisoners.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry O’Hara, the military spokesman at Bagram, said: “We consider this very serious business. “These guys are dangerous not only to Afghanistan but to the world in general.” The men were discovered to be missing at 5am local time. Officials said that they could not rule out that they may still be on the sprawling base.

“I can’t give specifics on how they escaped,” Colonel O’Hara said. “The circumstances surrounding the escape are under investigation as we speak.”

Bagram, a former Soviet air base, is guarded by hundreds of troops and has high concrete walls, razor-wire fences and searchlights. There are two main gates, one manned by Afghan guards, the other by American forces.

Access to the prison facility is strictly limited. The spokesman confirmed that it was the first time that anyone had escaped. The prison has housed hundreds of suspected militants since the war to oust the Taleban began in late 2001.

Senior al-Qaeda suspects arrested in neighbouring Pakistan and elsewhere have also been held at the base, where there have been reports of abuse and deaths in custody after torture and beating. About 450 suspects are being held at Bagram. On Saturday 76 Afghan prisoners were released as part of a continuing effort to promote national reconciliation.

[MadIvan]

Uh oh.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[Responsibility1st]

Should have had them at Gitmo.

Has Guantanamo Bay ever lost a prisoner?

[lormand]

Note to US military.

Take one week to get all the info you can, then "make room" for another detainee.

[Dog]

Look how they slid this in at the end.

Senior al-Qaeda suspects arrested in neighbouring Pakistan and elsewhere have also been held at the base, where there have been reports of abuse and deaths in custody after torture and beating.

I hate the media.

[Responsibility1st]

BTW

You should have posted a "BARF ALERT" regarding this Times article.

Besides this escape, this article seemed eager to mention the loss of 19 US soldiers. (How is that related?)

And of course charges of torture are tossed into the mix.

[MadIvan]

My apologies...I was posting in haste as I am concerned about Al Qaeda bastards escaping.

Regards, Ivan

[RockinRight]

I believe the phrase "shoot-to-kill" comes into play here.

[MadIvan]

Torture then kill. I don't care about the rights of Islamist prisoners.

Regards, Ivan

[OldBullrider]

After all the reports of prisoner abuse it is about time to do some field interrogations on these terrorists. Do you think maybe the hole in the fence was conveniently left open for one these morons to escape? Out on the open range your fair territory to be questioned as your head is being punched buy the butt end of a rifle. You would be surprised as to the information you can retrieve in situations like this. Also which way did he go?, oh, that way where his buddies are hiding out.

[RockinRight]

I agree.

[Wolfhound777]

Bagram, a former Soviet air base, is guarded by hundreds of troops and has high concrete walls, razor-wire fences and searchlights. There are two main gates, one manned by Afghan guards, the other by American forces.

Boys and girls, can we guess which gate they strolled out of?

[GSlob]

One does not "torture, then kill", for it is a hallmark of a gentleman "C" torturer. One tortures in such a way that the fully conscious subject naturally expires under torture, at more or less predetermined time. Coming term you will have to re-take the class.

[Deetes]

This has came so close to happening in Iraq . Big bummer...

[pyx]

Immigration checks on London tube passengers were banned six months ago: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/16617210?source=Evening%20Standard

In otherwords, yet more innocents are sacrificed to the LEFTIST ideology of Political Correctness.

[gwmoore]

I'm sorry to have to suggest the obvious solution, but AL Qaeda Terrorists with either #2 alloy, Linotype, or jacketed projectiles in what would remain of their brain stems would not escape from anywhere. I also believe that even the Geneva Convention, and the "Laws of Warfare" as practiced by civilised nations provide for the aforementioned application of the #2 alloy, Linotype, or jacketed projectiles to "irregular" forces who wear no uniforms, and who represent no flag.

We SHOULD have been practicing this procedure since 9/11/01 and let the liberals, the apologists, and do gooders be damned. IMHO, these scum only respect force and terror, and I say, let's give it to them.

My only negative comment is" whoever was the idiot who took the camera into Abu Ghraib was a complete doofus.. I can't believe that someone was so damned stupid as to take pictures..... there used to be an "internal" penalty for crap like that. The whatever or whoever is providing the "leaks" is at Gitmo, well, sharks have to eat.... it's just too damn bad they went swimming.....

That is all I will say on that subject...

Keep the Faith for Freedom,

[canalabamian]

I thought you opused out a few weeks back? Glad to see you're back.

[Fred Nerks]

#15 Don't miss this, political correctness kills!

Immigration checks on London tube passengers were banned six months ago: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/16617210?source=Evening%20Standard

[AFPhys]

I disagree.

These dogs need to be put to sleep, not imprisoned forever.

[GVnana]

two main gates, one manned by Afghan guards

Yeah. It would have to be an inside job.