Taliban fighters have raided a prison in eastern Afghanistan. Hundreds of prisoners escaped in what Afghan officials are calling a well-organized attack.

Officials say the attack began with a suicide car bombing. They said the explosion enabled Taliban fighters to enter the prison grounds.

Afghan officials said there were a total of 436 prisoners in the complex. At least 355 are said to have escaped during the attack. The government said 148 of the escapees were threats to national security.

An Afghan interior ministry statement says seven security guards were killed, with seven others wounded. It said that five militants also were killed.