Taliban free hundreds of fighters from jail in north

Ben Bassey 14:32 - 28 September 2015

Government reinforcements were on their way to try to prevent the city from falling entirely to the Taliban, according to the provincial deputy governor, who spoke from the city airport after fleeing his office.

Taliban insurgents broke into the main prison in Afghanistan's northern city of Kunduz on Monday, freeing hundreds of fellow Islamist fighters hours after militants captured much of the city, two security officials said.

Armed with rocket-propelled grenades, Taliban militants overwhelmed security guards at the jail in Kunduz city centre, according to two officials there who spoke on condition of anonymity.