Inmates facing murder charges among 11 escapees from New Orleans prison

Eleven prisoners, several of them facing murder charges, have escaped a New Orleans jail, authorities say.

The inmates are thought to have fled around midnight, and were discovered missing during a headcount at 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT) at the Orleans Parish Jail on Friday morning.

One inmate was apprehended in New Orleans' French Quarter, police said.

The escaped inmates are considered "armed and dangerous", the Orleans Parish Sheriff's office said, adding that a search was underway.

Louisiana State Police identified one escapee as Kendall Myles in downtown New Orleans through facial recognition technology after he was caught on a surveillance camera.

He tried to flee on foot before being apprehended "without further incident", the police force said.

While authorities are yet to say how the inmates escaped, WDSU, an affiliate of NBC, reported they dug a hole possibly under a toilet. The BBC has not verified that account.

New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the prisoner escape was an "urgent and serious situation" and encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity.

Victims of some of the escapees have been notified, she said, adding that several are facing murder and other violent charges.

The inmates probably had help, Supt Kirkpatrick said, and are unlikely to still be wearing prison uniforms, warning that anyone who helped the inmates would be charged.

The FBI and US Marshals have also joined local police in the search, she added.

The Orleans Parish Jail is located near the centre of the city, around 3 km (2 miles) from the city's famous French Quarter.