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Two prisoners escape from jail van in Manchester Two prisoners escape from jail van in Manchester
(about 4 hours later)
Two prisoners have escaped from a jail van after it was ambushed by armed men on the outskirts of Manchester city centre.Two prisoners have escaped from a jail van after it was ambushed by armed men on the outskirts of Manchester city centre.
A number of men attacked the van in Trinity Way at about 0830 BST, Greater Manchester Police said. Kirk Bradley and Tony Downes, both 25, fled after a number of men attacked the van in Trinity Way at about 0830 BST.
They fled in a Saab, which was found abandoned about a mile away in Barrow Street, Salford. The pair were being transported to Liverpool Crown Court, where they were on trial.
A security guard has been taken to hospital but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. The men, both from Liverpool, stood accused of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life.
They are also accused of conspiracy to commit criminal damage with intent to endanger life.
The gang fled in a Saab, which was found abandoned about a mile away in Barrow Street, Salford.
Long delays
A security guard was taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Det Sgt Paul Copplestone urged anyone with information to contact Greater Manchester Police.Det Sgt Paul Copplestone urged anyone with information to contact Greater Manchester Police.
Traffic congestion Members of the public are urged not to approach the pair.
He said: "We are sure that this incident was witnessed by many people at a very busy time of the morning. The Saab was driven off towards the M602 motorway. Mr Copplestone said: "We are sure that this incident was witnessed by many people at a very busy time of the morning. The Saab was driven off towards the M602 motorway. We would urge witnesses to contact us."
"We would urge witnesses to contact us."
It is understood that at least one of the men is from Merseyside.
Police cordoned off a section of a bridge in Trinity Way, close to the junction with Regent Road.
A white Leyland DAF G4S security van remained in the middle of the bridge with its driver's side door open and a police car parked behind it.
Traffic was being diverted from both sides of the bridge, causing congestion in the city centre.
A spokesman for the prison service confirmed a prisoner escort van, carrying two inmates, had been involved in "an incident".A spokesman for the prison service confirmed a prisoner escort van, carrying two inmates, had been involved in "an incident".
"This is a matter for the police," he added."This is a matter for the police," he added.
In May this year, three prisoners escaped from a security van in Burscough, Lancashire, when they climbed out through the skylights in their individual cells inside the vehicle. The incident caused long delays in the area, as Trinity Way is one of the major routes around the city centre.
Two were quickly caught but convicted robber John Paul William, 35, managed to evade the authorities for seven days and was spotted on CCTV on a bus in Manchester.
In May 2010, Richard Smith, 29, from Salford, charged with conspiracy to commit arson, was sprung from a prison van outside Salford Magistrates' Court.
He fled to Spain but was arrested and extradited back to the UK.