Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt said:

The British Government strongly condemns the terrorist attacks that took place at the prisons of Abu Ghraib and Al-Taji in Iraq yesterday. My condolences go out to families of the members of the Iraqi Security Forces who were killed in these attacks.

Like the vast majority of the Iraqi people, we are clear that violence and terrorism have no place in Iraq’s future. The United Kingdom supports the Iraqi government in its efforts to uphold the rule of law and apprehend those inmates that escaped.

These attacks follow a number of horrific incidents that have taken place across Iraq recently. That these attacks have taken place during the holy month of Ramadan, a time for tolerance, is especially disturbing and I urge all political, religious and community leaders to work together to combat terrorism and violence.

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