The authorities had information that there was a possibility of a terrorist attack on Bannu jail, sources said on Monday.
The information was passed on to concerned quarters by the intelligence apparatus on January 5.
According to the sources, the intelligence agencies had conveyed to the authorities that terrorist commander Askari ex Tariq Geedar Group was planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Kohat district, Kohat cantonment, police station Lachi and Bannu jail to free imprisoned terrorists.
The sources said a total of 341 prisoners escaped from Bannu jail on Sunday early morning.
These included 21 prisoners facing death penalty, 21 facing life sentence, 95 were charged with murder, 30 were facing narcotics cases while 24 were confined under the Frontier Crimes Regulations.
The sources said 145 were on judicial remand while five female prisoners were also among the inmates.