A cluster of guards at Al-Kweifiya prison in Benghazi has been arrested pending investigations related to the escape of eight prison inmates, some of whom were convicted of murder.

In a statement, the Attorney General's office said the Public Prosecution Office of Benghazi began investigation procedures into the circumstances of the escape of eight inmates.

Four of those who escaped were on death row, while others were under investigation for committing murder.

The Public Prosecution said the guards have been negligent in guarding the prison and fulfilling their duty, in addition to the reluctance of the prison's chiefs to inform the competent authority of the incident as soon as it occurred.

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