Five dangerous Islamist terrorists escape Tunisia jail, government asks citizens to be vigilant

As many as five ‘dangerous Islamist ’ prisoners have escaped the jail in Tunisia, elevating concerns about the regional security, the Tunisian interior ministry announced on its Facebook page. The Tunisian government released their mugshots and asked the citizens to stay alert and provide any information about the individuals in an attempt to deter any "terrorist acts” or security threat to the safety of the Tunisians. 

A criminal investigation was immediately opened by the Tunisian authorities after the prison escape.

"The Ministry of Interior announces that it has been informed by the administration of the Marnakiya Civil Prison of the escape of 05 dangerous elements serving sentences related to terrorist cases from the said prison at dawn today, Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and all security units have been alerted to the need to intensify the search, investigation and quick and sure inspection in order to arrest them as soon as possible," the Tunisian interior ministry said.

‘Dangerous terrorists’ escaped from Mornaguia prison

According to the Tunisian government, the dangerous terrorists escaped from the Mornaguia prison early Tuesday morning. Among the escapees was Ahmed Al-Malki also known as “Al-Somali,” the 44-year-old who was sentenced to 24 years in prison on terrorism charges. Al-Malki had killed Tunisian opposition figure including Chokri Belaid in 2013. He had also assassinated another politician known as Belaid, the leader of the leftist Democratic Patriots’ Unified Party the same year.

“Five dangerous individuals serving prison sentences related to terrorist cases” escaped Mornaguia prison at dawn on Tuesday, the ministry said.

The murders committed by Al-Malki triggered political crisis in Tunisia. As a result, the country’s Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party had to cede power forcibly having retained it sine 2011 revolution, but the killings led to resignation of ruling Tunisian government. Al-Malki also killed a left-wing member of Tunisian parliament, Mohamed Brahmi, a staunch critic of Tunisia’s ruling Ennahdha party that led to 2011 uprising overthrowing the dictatorship of ex president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The terrorist also arrived out the attacks on Tunis, city of Sousse in 2015 that killed dozens of people including the tourists. Both Belaid and Brahmi were shot dead in front of their homes in 2013 by AL-Malki in February and July as two unidentified perpetrators opened fire from a motorcycle. Another terror fugitive Rayd Touati was detained in 2019 and sentenced to death by a Tunisian court on murder charges. 

In 2014, Touati killed a police officer in the Chaambi mountains near the Algerian border. He also orchestrated violent attacks in Tunisia over the past decade. Both Daesh (ISIS) and al-Qaeda have an active presence and a stronghold in the mountainous regions near the Algerian border.

Leila Jaffel, Tunisia's Minister of Justice has reportedly ordered an administrative investigation to establish how the dangerous prisoners were able to escape the cell, as well as what motivated their actions.