Statements or reports from international organizations such as the UN or Amnesty International

White Helmets Find No Hidden Detainees After Searching Sednaya 'Slaughterhouse' Prison

Dec 9, 2024, 10:41 PM

Following the ousting of the Syrian regime, the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, deployed five specialized emergency teams to Sednaya Prison near Damascus, nicknamed the 'slaughterhouse,' to search for hidden underground cells reportedly holding detainees. The prison gates had been opened by rebels, prompting thousands of Syrians to search for their missing relatives among the filthy cells. The teams consisted of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained dog units, and medical responders. Despite extensive searches using all available means, including breaching tools and sensors, the White Helmets announced on December 10 that they did not find any secret doors, basements, or evidence indicating the presence of additional detainees. The search operations have now concluded without discovering any secret chambers or undiscovered dungeons in Sednaya Prison.