Security forces foil mass escape attempt at Hasakah prison

By Mu‘az al-Hamad

HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – The Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) thwarted a mass escape attempt early Friday from the “Kallasa” prison in the city of Hasakah, according to the Autonomous Administration’s Interior Board.

In a statement, the Internal Board said that during a routine headcount, several inmates attempted to incite disorder inside the facility, leading to a brief riot that lasted nearly an hour. Security forces intervened quickly, restoring calm and ensuring that no detainees managed to flee.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that inmates exploited gaps inside the prison in an effort to create chaos and open a route for escape. Guards, supported by additional Internal Security personnel, swiftly contained the unrest, secured the prison wings, and placed several participants in solitary confinement for investigation.

The Interior Board stressed that no external attack or armed infiltration occurred in Hasakah, dismissing rumors of militant involvement. Officials emphasized that the situation was confined to an internal attempt at escape and that the prison and the city remain fully stable and secure.

“Kallasa” prison holds civilian detainees facing charges in criminal cases. Human rights monitors have previously noted that the facility suffers from overcrowding and limited services, conditions that have occasionally fueled unrest among inmates.

The prison is one of several detention centers overseen by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), with security maintained by the Internal Security Forces in coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Both entities play a central role in preserving stability across the region, particularly in Hasakah, where security threats from extremist groups remain a concern.