Belgium - Three prisoners escape in two days

suie e cendres

13/06/2011 - Nivelles - Two prisoners escaped from the prison of Nivelles this morning, during visits. They threatened a guard with self made knives (from razor blades) and were able to pass the gates and flee. They had been condemned for theft with violence. The guard was not harmed. The prison guards stopped normal functioning, there are no visits anymore, prisoners are all put in their cell. Guards announced protest actions. Despite big police presence, the two are still running.

12/06/2011 Namur – A prisoner who was detained in the prison of Andenne escaped from a hospital in Namur where he passed medical exams. While one prison guard was smoking a cigarette outside, the 22-year old guy faked stomach ache to be released from handcuffs and pretended to go to the toilet. It happened all extremely fast. He ran out, stole a car which was found back later in Brussels. He had been condemned to a 7 year prison sentence for 12 armed hold-ups. He had amongst others stolen 100.000 euros worth of meal-vouchers from a Sodexo-employee. The prisoner already tried to escape from the justice palace of Namur. Police reinforced border controls and media and justice cry for better protection of medical transfers. However “when a prisoner wants to escape, he will find means to do it” says a prison guard.