Convicted terrorists escape as gunmen storm prison in Bahrain, killing policeman
Manhunt launched after number of inmates held on terrorism charges were freed in jail attack
TERRORISTS have escaped from a prison in Bahrain after it was stormed by gunmen who freed them and killed a police officer.
Jaw prison, south of the capital Manama, holds inmates facing terror charges and political prisoners and the surrounding area is on lockdown.
It is unknown how many prisoners have escaped.
The interior ministry confirmed in a statement: "An armed attack on the Jau reform and rehabilitation centre resulted in the death of policeman Abdul Salam Saif and the escape of a number of inmates convicted of terrorist crimes."
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Bahrain is a small island off the coast of Saudi Arabia which hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet and soon as British naval base.
The nation has seen low-level unrest since its Arab Spring protests with demonstrators pressing for democracy driven out by security forces in 2011.
At least 30 civilians and five policemen were killed as almost 3,000 people were arrested and some caged by military courts.
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