Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country, routinely reports detentions and convictions of Islamist militants. (Representational image)
At least 25 inmates and two security officers have been killed in a riot at a high-security prison in the northern Tajik city of Khujand, security sources said on Thursday.
Local authorities confirmed there had been a riot on Wednesday at the prison known for housing people convicted on extremism charges, but provided no other information.
Khujand lies around 300 km (186 miles) north of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.
According to an interior ministry official not authorised to comment publicly, the riot started when one inmate regarded by the authorities as a member of the Islamic State militant group attacked a prison guard.
The prison called in security forces to help quash the riot, which had now ended, said a security official speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Tajikistan, an impoverished Central Asian country, routinely reports detentions and convictions of Islamist militants. Last July, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack which killed four Western tourists in Tajikistan.