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{{Short description|Prison escape in Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Sarposa Prison
| conflict = Sarposa Prison
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| coordinates = {{Coord|31|37|08|N|65|40|05|E|region:AF_type:airport |display=inline,title}} }}
| coordinates = {{Coord|31|37|08|N|65|40|05|E|region:AF_type:airport |display=inline,title}} }}
{{Campaignbox US war in Afghanistan}}
{{Campaignbox US war in Afghanistan}}
The '''Sarposa Prison tunneling escape''' was the escape of over 400 [[Taliban]] prisoners from [[Sarposa Prison]] in [[Kandahar]] by [[tunnel]] in April 2011.


The '''Sarposa Prison tunneling escape''' was the escape of around 475 prisoners from [[Sarposa Prison]] in [[Kandahar]] in April 2011 by a [[tunnel]] dug from the outside. At least 71 of the escapees were reportedly recaptured within days.<ref name=tribune/><ref name=NYT>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/world/asia/14identity.html | work=The New York Times | first=Shankar | last=Thom | title=To Track Militants, U.S. Has System That Never Forgets a Face | date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>
The tunnel was dug from the outside. As of April 25, 2011, only a handful of prisoners have been recaptured.


==Escape==
==Escape==
{{Expand section|date=April 2011}}
{{Expand section|date=April 2011}}
The tunnel used for the escape reportedly took several months to build, was over a hundred meters long, and used sophisticated techniques involving electricity, ventilation, and potentially the assistance of engineers. The tunnel ended in a house outside the prison that had been searched by security forces just two and a half months prior, yet with no suspicious activity reported. However, reports have speculated about whether it would have been possible to conduct the substantial earth-removal required for the construction of the tunnel without security forces having been aware.<ref name=nyt-limit/>
The tunnel used for the escape reportedly took several months to build, was over a hundred meters long, and used sophisticated techniques involving electricity, ventilation, and potentially the assistance of engineers. The tunnel ended in a house outside the prison that had been searched by security forces just two and a half months prior, yet with no suspicious activity was reported. Reports have speculated whether it would have been possible to conduct the substantial earth-removal required for the construction of the tunnel without security forces being alerted.<ref name=nyt-limit/>


==Outcome==
==Outcome==
{{Expand section|date=April 2011}}
{{Expand section|date=April 2011}}
In the end, almost 550 of the prisoners at the facility managed to escape. Some prisoners were reportedly recaptured, but after the first day the number of detained was 71, only a portion of whom may have been the escapees.
In the end, around 475 prisoners at the central jail managed to escape. At least 71 of the escaped prisoners were reportedly recaptured.<ref name=tribune>{{Cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/157744/recaptured-afghan-insurgents-tell-of-tunnel-escape|title=Recaptured Afghan insurgents tell of tunnel escape|date=April 27, 2011|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref name=NYT/>


Reports and commentary following the outbreak have focused on the extent that prison officials may have been complicit in the escape, and on whether the escaped prisoners can be expected to join in larger-scale attacks. Political assassinations in the Kandahar area are reportedly down in the last year, but suspicions about government officials, and their inability to protect civilians, has remained high. In response to the escape, the Afghan Uniformed Police established a checkpoint directly across the highway from the prison, directly above the tunnel exit. The security around the prison was also greatly enhanced by coalition and Afghan forces.
Reports and commentary following the outbreak focused on the extent of prison officials' complicity in the escape, and whether the escaped prisoners could be expected to join in large-scale attacks. Political assassinations in the Kandahar area were reportedly down in the last year, but suspicions about government officials, and their inability to protect civilians, had remained high. In response to the escape, the Afghan Uniformed Police established a checkpoint directly across the highway from the prison, directly above the tunnel exit.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} The security around the prison was also greatly enhanced by coalition and Afghan forces.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}


==Investigation==
==Investigation==


The head of the team investigating the escape, Mohammed Tahir, further cemented the likelihood that there was complicity from a number of people. He described the tunnel as so carefully planned and sophisticated that it appeared that engineers must have been involved, not merely men with shovels. "The tunnel was dug in a very professional way," said Tahir. "They have used an electrical system and a ventilation system and small shovels and pickaxes for digging and wheelbarrows for removing the soil." <ref name=nyt-limit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/world/asia/27taliban.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Afghan Officials Try to Limit Damage From Prison Break], by [[Alissa J. Rubin]]. ''The New York Times''. April 26, 2011.</ref>
The head of the team investigating the escape, Mohammed Tahir, further cemented the likelihood of complicity from a number of people.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} He described the tunnel as so carefully planned and sophisticated that it appeared that engineers, not merely men with shovels, must have been involved. "The tunnel was dug in a very professional way," said Tahir. "They have used an electrical system and a ventilation system and small shovels and pickaxes for digging and wheelbarrows for removing the soil."<ref name=nyt-limit>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/world/asia/27taliban.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Afghan Officials Try to Limit Damage From Prison Break], by [[Alissa J. Rubin]]. ''The New York Times''. April 26, 2011.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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== External links==
== External links==
*[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/25/us-afghanistan-prison-idUSTRE73O0O420110425?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews Reuters report]
*[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-prison-idUSTRE73O0O420110425?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews Reuters report]
* The Taliban's version: http://www.alexstrick.com/2011/05/kandahar-prison-escape-the-talibans-tale/
* The Taliban's version: [http://www.alexstrick.com/2011/05/kandahar-prison-escape-the-talibans-tale/]


{{WoTPrisoners}}
{{WoTPrisoners}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarposa Prison Tunneling Escape Of 2011}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarposa Prison Tunneling Escape Of 2011}}
[[Category:Escapes]]
[[Category:Prison escapes]]
[[Category:2011 in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:2011 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
[[Category:Taliban activities]]
[[Category:Taliban activities]]
[[Category:History of Kandahar]]
[[Category:21st century in Kandahar]]
[[Category:Tunnels in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Tunnels in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:April 2011 events]]
[[Category:April 2011 events in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:April 2011 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2011 crimes in Afghanistan]]




Latest revision as of 07:36, 28 June 2024

Sarposa Prison
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
Location
Kandahar, Afghanistan
31°37′08″N 65°40′05″E / 31.61889°N 65.66806°E / 31.61889; 65.66806

The Sarposa Prison tunneling escape was the escape of around 475 prisoners from Sarposa Prison in Kandahar in April 2011 by a tunnel dug from the outside. At least 71 of the escapees were reportedly recaptured within days.[1][2]

Escape[edit]

The tunnel used for the escape reportedly took several months to build, was over a hundred meters long, and used sophisticated techniques involving electricity, ventilation, and potentially the assistance of engineers. The tunnel ended in a house outside the prison that had been searched by security forces just two and a half months prior, yet with no suspicious activity was reported. Reports have speculated whether it would have been possible to conduct the substantial earth-removal required for the construction of the tunnel without security forces being alerted.[3]

Outcome[edit]

In the end, around 475 prisoners at the central jail managed to escape. At least 71 of the escaped prisoners were reportedly recaptured.[1][2]

Reports and commentary following the outbreak focused on the extent of prison officials' complicity in the escape, and whether the escaped prisoners could be expected to join in large-scale attacks. Political assassinations in the Kandahar area were reportedly down in the last year, but suspicions about government officials, and their inability to protect civilians, had remained high. In response to the escape, the Afghan Uniformed Police established a checkpoint directly across the highway from the prison, directly above the tunnel exit.[citation needed] The security around the prison was also greatly enhanced by coalition and Afghan forces.[citation needed]

Investigation[edit]

The head of the team investigating the escape, Mohammed Tahir, further cemented the likelihood of complicity from a number of people.[citation needed] He described the tunnel as so carefully planned and sophisticated that it appeared that engineers, not merely men with shovels, must have been involved. "The tunnel was dug in a very professional way," said Tahir. "They have used an electrical system and a ventilation system and small shovels and pickaxes for digging and wheelbarrows for removing the soil."[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Recaptured Afghan insurgents tell of tunnel escape". The Express Tribune. April 27, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Thom, Shankar (July 13, 2011). "To Track Militants, U.S. Has System That Never Forgets a Face". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Afghan Officials Try to Limit Damage From Prison Break, by Alissa J. Rubin. The New York Times. April 26, 2011.

External links[edit]


Afghanistan

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