Prison guards have killed at least 17 prisoners after a mass breakout at a jail in Papua New Guinea (PNG), according to reports, with dozens of inmates still on the run.

The incident took place in Buimo jail in the Pacific nation's second-largest city, Lae, on Friday, but only became public after media reports on Monday.

"Unfortunately these incidents, tragic as they are, happen all too frequently in Papua New Guinea as there is poor accountability with police and security officers," Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International's Pacific Researcher, told the Reuters news agency.

The PNG Post-Courier and The National newspapers both cited local police as confirming 17 people were killed, three were caught and 57 were still at large.

"These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community," Lae police metropolitan commander Chief Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said of those who escaped, warning the public to be vigilant.

"The majority of those who escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial.

"A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing."

Buimo is the same prison where police shot dead 12 inmates during a jailbreak last year. The jail, one of the largest in the country, has been criticised in the past for overcrowding and for poor prisoner conditions.

Wagambie urged family members and associates of the escapees not to harbour them.

"I am warning them that they will be caught. They must do what is good for them and surrender," he said.</s>Seventeen prisoners have been shot dead after a mass breakout at a jail in Papua New Guinea, reports said on Monday, with 57 still on the run.

Inmates from the Buimo jail in the Pacific nation's second largest city Lae made a dash for freedom after breaking out of their compound on Friday, with prison warders opening fire.

The PNG Post-Courier and The National newspapers both cited local police as confirming 17 were killed, three were caught and 57 were still at large.

"These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community," Lae police metropolitan commander chief superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said of the escapees, warning the public to be vigilant.</s>Prison officers have shot and killed 17 men who escaped from a jail near Papua New Guinea's second-largest city, Lae. "A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing."

Start the conversation, or Read more at ABC News.</s>PNG prison officers shoot and kill 17 prisoners who escaped from Buimo jail

Prison officers have shot and killed 17 men who escaped from a jail near Papua New Guinea's second-largest city, Lae.

The men were among 77 who broke out of the main compound of Buimo jail on Friday.

Police recaptured three and are planning an operation to recapture the rest.

Lae's Metropolitan Police Superintendent, Anthony Waigambe Jr, said most of the escapees were on remand.

"The majority of those that escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial," he said.

"A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing."

In 2016, 12 inmates were shot and killed when 94 men escaped from the same prison.

"Same thing happened last year when we had a jail break, but we were able to recapture many and lowered the crime rate," Superintendent Waigambe said.

"This time we will do it again, so the escapees must surrender and not let us go after them."

Police warned Lae residents to expect an increase in crime.

"I call on the general public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions when moving around," Superintendet Waigambe said.

"These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community."</s>Seventeen prisoners have been shot dead after a mass breakout at a jail in Papua New Guinea, reports said today, with 57 still on the run.

Inmates from the Buimo jail in the Pacific nation’s second largest city Lae made a dash for freedom after breaking out of their compound on Friday, with prison warders opening fire.

The PNG Post-Courier and The National newspapers both cited local police as confirming 17 were killed, three were caught and 57 were still at large.

“These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community,” Lae police metropolitan commander Chief Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said of the escapees, warning the public to be vigilant.

“The majority of those who escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial.

“A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing.”

It is the same prison where police shot dead 12 inmates during a jailbreak last year.

Crime and lawlessness in PNG, a sprawling nation where many still live traditional and subsistence lives in remote areas, is rampant.

Wagambie urged family members and associates of the escapees not to harbour them.

“I am warning them that they will be caught. They must do what is good for them and surrender,” he said.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App now</s>SYDNEY, May 15 (Reuters) - Prison officers in Papua New Guinea shot and killed 17 inmates involved in a mass prison break, local media reported on Monday, sparking calls for an investigation into overcrowded jails in the South Pacific nation where Australia detains asylum seekers.

Fifty escapees were still on the run from the Buimo prison in the city of Lae on Papua New Guinea's north coast, police said on their official Facebook page, warning the public that an increase in car jackings and armed robberies was likely.

"These are dangerous individuals," Lae Metropolitan Police Command said. "Police anticipate an increase in serious crimes in the city."

Local media reported than more than 70 prisoners attempted to escape from the Buimo prison, nearly 320 km (200 miles) north of the capital Port Moresby, on Friday. The Post Courier and The National newspapers reported that 17 prisoners were shot dead, three captured, and 57 were still at large.

It was the third mass breakout from Buimo in three years.

International human rights groups have repeatedly called for an inquiry into PNG jails, citing concerns about overcrowding, limited access to medical treatment and delays in court proceedings.

"Unfortunately these incidents, tragic as they are, happen all too frequently in Papua New Guinea as there is poor accountability with police and security officers," Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International's Pacific Researcher, told Reuters by telephone.

In February last year, 11 prisoners were killed in an attempted breakout at Buimo after 30 prisoners attacked guards. Fifty-five men escaped from the prison in a breakout in 2015 and two years earlier one detainee was shot dead when 44 fled the same facility in another mass escape.

Australia maintains an asylum-seeker detention centre on PNG's Manus Island, in accordance with its policy of not allowing people who attempt to reach Australia by boat to settle in the country.

The Manus camp, one of two South Pacific island asylum seeker detention centres funded by Australia, has been criticised by human right groups and the United Nations for cramp conditions, inadequate medical facilities and violence.

The PNG Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the camp was illegal and should close, forcing Australia to confirm it would shut down the camp by the end of 2017.

Australia struck a deal with former U.S. President Barack Obama to take some detainees who were deemed refugees, an agreement criticised by President Donald Trump as a "dumb deal" when he took office earlier this year. (Reporting by Benjamin Weir; Editing by Jane Wardell and Michael Perry)</s>Seventeen prisoners have been shot dead and dozens are still at large after a mass escape at Papua New Guinean jail.

At least 77 male prisoners from the notoriously overcrowded prison in the city of Lae attempted a mass escape on Friday morning. Only three were apprehended, and 57 remain at large. PNG police said details were “still sketchy” but noted reports which said “authorities” shot the men.

“These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community,” Lae police metropolitan commander Chief Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said of the escapees. “The majority of those who escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial.

“A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing.”

Wagambie Jr said he was in Port Moresby at the time of the breakout but a joint security operation by correctional services and the police was working to rearrest the escapees.

The Australian head of Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson, said the shooting was “deeply disturbing”.

“Arresting escaped prisoners is difficult and dangerous work, but Papua New Guinea authorities don’t have a licence to kill,” Pearson told the Guardian.

“It’s important that PNG authorities impartially investigate the prison break and circumstances around the killing of 17 prisoners. The government should identify and hold to account those responsible for using unnecessary or excessive force.”

Local media reports the bodies are being held at the Angau memorial hospital morgue, under guard.

Residents of Lae, PNG’s second biggest city, have again been warned of an increase in already high rates of crime.

Buimo prison has seen frequent mass escapes in recent years. Eleven men were killed and 17 wounded in February last year when almost 100 people stormed the gates.

The PNG prison system, and Buimo in particular, has been criticised for poor conditions and overcrowding.

PNG broadcaster, EMTV, reported the Lae prison held more than double its 400 capacity in February this year.

Wag­am­bie Jr warned members of the community not to shelter absconders. He also expressed concern about a rise in crime ahead of the upcoming PNG national elections.

The head of the Buimo prison has refused to comment to local media.</s>By JUNIOR UKAHA

 BUSINESSES in Lae are tightening security in their premises as the city braces for an upsurge in criminal activities following the mass breakout of inmates from Buimo prison last Friday.

 Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Alan McLay is warning businesses to be on the alert and to take precautions.

 “This is of the greatest concerns to us. We know that such breakouts have a corresponding effect on the increase in criminal activities in the city,” he said.

 “We have taken note of the warning issued by police following the escape. We have advised members to be on alert and take precautions.We have advised them not to stop for people and improve security in and around their premises.”

 The chamber looks after the interests of businesses in Lae. Dubbed the country’s industrial hub, business in Lae has recently been expanding with multi-billion kina infrastructure development on its main port, airport and highway.

 During the breakout by 77 prisoners at around 11am, warders shot dead 17 and recaptured three who are now in hospital.

 A joint police-prisons team is looking for the 57 still at large.

 In 2015, 50 escaped from the prison in a similar breakout. Last year, it was 87 who fled, with 12 shot dead by warders.

 Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr warned city residents and businesshouses to improve security as an increase in criminal activities was expected.

 McLay said it was one of the overcrowded prisons in the country and the reason a lot of escapes had happened there which made the job of warders difficult.

 Meanwhile, Angau Memorial Hospital doctor in charge of the Accidents and Emergency Department Dr Alex Peawi told The National yesterday that the bodies of the 17 inmates were brought to the hospital by warders between 7pm and 8pm last Friday.

 “They were brought in at dark. They have all died from bullet wounds,” he said.

 “Three injured prisoners were treated for bullet wounds at the Accident and Emergency Department and taken to the wards. Their conditions are stable. Prison officers are guarding them.

 “We appeal to the relatives of the dead prisoners to come and identify them before post mortem is conducted.”</s>SYDNEY: Seventeen prisoners have been shot dead after a mass breakout at a jail in Papua New Guinea, police said Monday, with 57 still on the run.

Inmates from the Buimo jail in the Pacific nation's second largest city of Lae made a dash for freedom after breaking out of their compound on Friday, with prison warders opening fire.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary said in a statement 17 were killed, three were caught and 57 were still at large. "These are undesirable people and will be a threat to the community," Lae police metropolitan commander Chief Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said of the escapees, warning the public to be vigilant. "The majority of those who escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial. "A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing."Police shot dead 12 inmates during a jailbreak at the same prison last year. In 2015 more than 50 prisoners escaped from the same facility.

Jails in PNG are often overcrowded and conditions are poor. Wagambie said locals in Lae should brace for a spate of crime.

"We experienced an upsurge of criminal activities when Buimo jail reported a mass breakout last year," he said, urging family members and associates of the escapees not to harbour them.

"I am warning them that they will be caught. They must do what is good for them and surrender."

Crime and lawlessness is rampant in PNG, a sprawling nation where many still live traditional and subsistence lives in remote areas.</s>Prison guards have shot dead 17 inmates after a mass breakout at Buimo prison in Papua New Guinea.Three prisoners have been recaptured while 57 others managed to escape and remain at large.

Authorities have warned that the escaped inmates, some of them still awaiting trial, pose a serious threat to the safety of the area.The prison in Lae, Papua New Guinea’s second largest city, has seen repeated similar escapes over the past years.

“The majority of those who escaped were arrested for serious crimes and were in custody awaiting trial,” police Chief Super­in­tendent Anthony Wagambie was quoted in several local media.

“A good number were arrested by police last year for mainly armed robberies, car thefts, break and enter and stealing. Among them are convicted prisoners.”

He warned the escapees that they would be caught and encouraged them to surrender themselves to community leaders, church elders or family members to then be taken back to prison.

Prisons in Papua New Guinea often suffer from overcrowding, poor conditions and long waiting periods for prisoners awaiting trial.

In 2016, at least 11 prisoners were shot dead and more than 70 escaped when they stormed the main gate, overpowering the guards.

The previous year, some 50 prisoners managed to escaped in a similar way.
Papua New Guinean media reports confirm that 17 people were fatally shot by prison officers during a prison escape in Lae on May 12.