Mauritanian police in a statement Tuesday announced the re-arrest of three of the four jihadists that escaped prison last Sunday.

The detainees were convicted of terrorism.

According to the statement, the Anti-Terrorist Unit, in cooperation with the security services, succeeded in arresting the three escaped prisoners, who were hiding in a district of the capital, Nouakchott.

The three detainees were immediately subjected to an investigation by the Mauritanian security forces.

Since Sunday evening, the Mauritanian security forces have been on the heels of four jihadists namely Saleck Ould Cheikh, Mohamed Ould Chebih, Aboubacar Essedick Abdel Kérim and Mohamed Mahmoud Yeslim who escaped from Nouakchott prison.

Their prison break followed an exchange of gunfire with elements of the National Guard in charge of security at the central civil prison in the city where the four men were being held.

According to the Mauritanian Interior Ministry, two prison guards were killed and two others injured.