Syrian rebels on Thursday seized control of most of Aleppo’s central prison, freeing hundreds of detainees, an NGO said, prompting a denial from state media.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Abdel Rahman said the rebel assault started with an attack at the prison’s main entrance.
“Large numbers of rebels then followed by attacking the prison,” he added.
Ahrar al-Sham said opposition fighters had taken full control of the prison, as did the Aleppo Media Centre, a citizen-journalist outlet.
But Abdel Rahman said fighting was still ongoing at the complex, which reportedly holds some 3,000 detainees, including Islamists, activists and minors.