Basra prison incident

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The Basra prison incident is a controversial event involving British troops in Basra, Iraq. In September 2005 two British Special Air Service soldiers were arrested by Iraqi police after they opened fire on police officers. The undercover soldiers wore Arab civilian garments at the time. UK armed forces later stormed the prison with six tanks and breached the walls. The two soldiers were thus released. A dozen other prisoners are thought to have fled in the confusion.^[1] An angry mob faught the operation, setting two armoured vehicles ablaze with petrol bombs.

The Ministry of Defence initially denied storming the prison.^[2] In later statements, it is explained that the soldiers would have likely been killed, and that the police force had been infiltrated by illegal militia groups.^[3]

The Governor of the province, Muhammad al-Waili, denounced the event as "barbaric, savage and irresponsible".

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