| Part of Algerian Civil War | |
| Date | 10 March 1994 |
|---|---|
| Location | Tazoult, Algeria |
| Perpetrator | Armed Islamic Group of Algeria |
| Outcome | 1,000 to 1,200 prisoners escaped |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Arrests | 39 |
On 10 March 1994, 1,000 to 1,200[1] inmates (mainly Islamist militants) escaped from a prison in Tazoult, Algeria, who were fighting to overthrow the Algerian government since early 1992.[2] They fled when an Islamist commando unit supported by the prison staff raided the prison and released the inmates.[3] The escapees included 280 prisoners who were on death row. Authorities killed 5 men and arrested 39 during the prison escape.[4] The Armed Islamic Group of Algeria claimed responsibility for this from Pakistan.[5]