An Albanian contract killer who escaped twice from a high-security prison in Greece has taken six hostages in what appears to be a new bid to get away.
Alket Rizaj took the hostages on Saturday at the Malandrino prison in central Greece and is reportedly armed with grenades and explosives.
Mobile phone photos show a man posing alongside six men, at least some of whom appear to be prison officers.
After talks dragged, Greek commandos are said to have freed one captive.
Smoke bombs were hurled during the operation, according to Greek news website Parapolitika.
According to AP news agency, police have been lobbing chemicals "at irregular intervals" into the prison.
Rizaj is demanding a getaway car, Greek officials are quoted as saying.
The photos purportedly of the hostages were sent to an Albanian TV station by an unnamed prisoner.
Rizaj, who has two convictions for murder, escaped in June 2006 and February 2009 from Korydallos maximum security prison in Athens.
He got away both times by helicopter and both times along with bank robber Vassilis Paleokostas.
The Albanian was recaptured in November 2009, when he was found with a female companion at a property near the town of Marathon.
The Korydallos jail's director and the inspector of prisons were fired after the second escape.
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