Pakistan jailbreak: Taliban free 248 in Dera Ismail Khan

Taliban militants have freed 248 prisoners in an assault on a prison in north-west Pakistan, officials say.

Militants armed with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and bombs blasted down the walls of the jail in the town of Dera Ismail Khan and streamed inside, reports said.

An hours-long gun battle followed into the early hours of Tuesday morning. At least 13 died, including six police.

Correspondents say it is a huge embarrassment for authorities.

The BBC's James Robbins reports.