Several prisoners who supported Islamic State were on February 3 shot dead by prison guards in Tajikistan after launching an attack wielding shanks and hand-made knives, according to a justice ministry briefing.

Five prisoners, identified as Islamic State members, were killed during an escape attempt in a Tajikistan prison. The inmates attacked guards with homemade knives, resulting in injuries to three prison employees.

At least five prisoners were killed and three prison employees injured in a riot triggered by an attempted escape at a prison in Vahdat, a city in Tajikistan, two sources within the country's security agencies told Reuters on Tuesday.