Four security officials are being interrogated by a security committee over the jail break of 23 Al-Qaeda members and suspects from the Political Security Jail in SanaÂ’a on February 3. The fugitives include men said to be among the most dangerous Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen.The jail officials are suspected of having aided the escape of the prisoners and taking bribes. Sources refused to reveal the results of interrogations, which are at this stage, preliminary.
The committee is still looking for more evidence against the jail officials. President Saleh told a London based Arabic newspaper earlier this week that three of the fugitives had handed themselves over to security forces. The rest are said to be still in Yemen, and in contact with authorities. Some reports claim they are willing to surrender themselves, though no evidence has been given for this.
President Saleh has blamed officials at the jail officials for laziness, and hinted at the existence of a conspiracy.
| A conspiracy? In Yemen? Pshaw! |
Investigators said the prisoners used cooking spoons and pot handles to dig the tunnel and two buckets for dirt removal. They also found four soccer balls which the prisoners used as breathing devices while they tunneled.
| That was a size 7 cooking spoon? |