Police quashed a prison riot and a jail break attempt in southern Egypt Monday, killing one prisoner and wounding dozens, according to the country's Interior Ministry.
Initially, it was reported that the man killed was a police officer, but he was later identified as prisoner Hany Rifaat Ghandour.
The ministry announced that the riot broke out in Assiut prison, 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Cairo, after prisoners heard rumors that one of the inmates had been tortured to death by police.
In the course of the struggle, three officers were taken hostage and several prisoners attempted to break out through the main gates before being stopped, added the ministry statement.
Reuters reported that gunfire had erupted following weapons being smuggled into the jail during visitors' hours.
The Reuters reported quoted a source as saying that 15 gunmen had perpetrated the prison-break attempt, 12 of which successfully entered the building. Witnesses were also said to have seen ambulances in the area, and smoke coming from inside the building.
Lt. Gen. Mohsen Murad, security director for the province, said 25 inmates and three prison guards were injured in the course of the battle. Some 2,000 security forces were summoned to the scene and the rioting prisoners were eventually subdued with a combination of tear gas and gunfire.
The hostages have since been freed and an investigation is under way by police and State Security, the Interior Ministry said.
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