55 prisoners escape, bringing total to 1,600 over past year

TRIPOLI, Libya, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Fifty-five prisoners overpowered guards and escaped from the Bawabat al-Jibs prison in Tripoli, Libya, a judicial police spokesman said.

The incident happened during breakfast on Saturday. There were only five guards on duty for 200 inmates, the Libya Herald reported.

The prisoners were standing in line to receive their food when they turned on the guards and disarmed them.

The Judicial Police Authority said they are searching for the escapees and giving their pictures and names to checkpoints, airports and border crossings.

The incident is the latest in a string of jailbreaks. More than 1,600 inmates have escaped over the last year, the Herald said.