[CNN] Al Qaeda fighters attacked a prison in the coastal Yemeni city of Al Mukallah early Thursday, freeing at least 270 prisoners, a third of whom have al Qaeda links, a senior Defense Ministry official has told CNN.Khaled Batarfi, a senior al Qaeda figure, was among the escapees, officials said.
Dozens of attackers took control of government buildings, including the city's Central Prison, Central Bank and radio station during the assault early Thursday, according to officials.
Government troops arrived early Thursday and clashed with the al Qaeda fighters, and most of the militants fled, the officials said.