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Two prisoners escape from jail van in Manchester | Two prisoners escape from jail van in Manchester |
(about 1 hour 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. |
Kirk Bradley and Tony Downes, both 25, fled after a number of men attacked the van in Trinity Way at about 0830 BST. | Kirk Bradley and Tony Downes, both 25, fled after a number of men attacked the van in Trinity Way at about 0830 BST. |
The pair were being transported to Liverpool Crown Court, where they were on trial. | The pair were being transported to Liverpool Crown Court, where they were on trial. |
The men, both from Liverpool, stand accused of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life. | |
They are also charged with 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. | The gang fled in a Saab, which was found abandoned about a mile away in Barrow Street, Salford. |
'Armed men' | |
A security guard was taken to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. | |
A spokesperson for security firm G4S said: "At around 0820 BST, one of our prisoner escorting vehicles was involved in an incident on the outskirts of Manchester. | |
"The vehicle, which was en-route to Liverpool Crown Court carrying two prisoners, was intercepted by several armed men wearing balaclavas. | |
"The men stopped the vehicle, assaulted the driver and forced him to open the vehicle and release the prisoners, who then escaped in another vehicle. | |
"Our crew immediately alerted police. The injured driver, who was struck on the head, has been taken to hospital where his condition is being assessed." | |
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 delays | |
Members of the public are urged not to approach the pair. | Members of the public are urged not to approach the pair. |
Det Sgt 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." | |
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. |
The incident caused long delays in the area, as Trinity Way is one of the major routes around the city centre. | The incident caused long delays in the area, as Trinity Way is one of the major routes around the city centre. |