Mozambique’s authorities reported that around 6,000 prisoners managed to escape from the central prison in the capital, Maputo, amid protests by angry demonstrators opposing the results of the October elections.

The country’s police chief stated that the inmates fled from the Maputo central prison on Christmas Day, describing the incident as a “rebellion.”

He confirmed that at least 33 prisoners were killed and 15 others were injured during the confrontation between the inmates and security forces during the escape.