Twenty-five inmates escaped from a prison in Tajikistan's capital overnight, killing six personnel in a dramatic jail break, a police source said on Monday.

The incident occurred after 1 a.m. when one of the convicts attacked a duty officer, took his keys and opened the cells with other inmates. The prisoners later grabbed weapons from the duty room and opened fire at the guards.

Six officers and soldiers were killed during the attack, the source in the Tajik Interior Ministry said. There were no reports on whether any of the inmates were injured or killed in the clash.

Police identified the escapees as members of an armed group who were detained in July 2009 during a special operation in east Tajikistan.

A total of 46 members of the gang from Russia, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan were convicted on August 20 for the crimes they committed in April-July 2009 and sentenced to between 10 and 30 years in prison.

A search for the prisoners has been launched across the country. Tajik authorities have asked Russia and Afghanistan to provide assistance in searching for the prisoners.

DUSHANBE, August 23 (RIA Novosti)