Post by Brett on Mar 14, 2008 18:10:19 GMT 12
Prisoner bolts on Auckland airport bus
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Friday, 14 March 2008
AdvertisementA prisoner escaped at Auckland International Airport this afternoon and was recaptured soon after.
The prisoner tried leaving the airport on a bus before he was caught.
In a statement the Department of Corrections said the remand prisoner was part of a group being transferred to Wanganui Prison, and was at Auckland Airport when he escaped from the custody of his guards.
"Due to the quick action of the staff involved, and co-operation between Corrections and Police the prisoner was recaptured in 20 minutes," said Northern Regional Manager Warren Cummins.
He said that full details of the escape were not yet available, but the prisoner was in police custody where he is being interviewed.
Corrections will mount a full investigation.
Initial reports said the man hijacked a bus heading from the airport to the city but police said there was no hijacking.
One man said the escaped prisoner had taken control of the bus which was made to turn towards the international terminal instead of heading to the city.
The witness said 20 passengers were let off the bus.
TV3 were reporting it as a hijacking, saying the prisioner headed towards the city, letting passengers off at traffic lights.
No word on whether he was Somali, or whether he had more than 25ml of liquid in a clear zip-lock bag.
By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media | Friday, 14 March 2008
AdvertisementA prisoner escaped at Auckland International Airport this afternoon and was recaptured soon after.
The prisoner tried leaving the airport on a bus before he was caught.
In a statement the Department of Corrections said the remand prisoner was part of a group being transferred to Wanganui Prison, and was at Auckland Airport when he escaped from the custody of his guards.
"Due to the quick action of the staff involved, and co-operation between Corrections and Police the prisoner was recaptured in 20 minutes," said Northern Regional Manager Warren Cummins.
He said that full details of the escape were not yet available, but the prisoner was in police custody where he is being interviewed.
Corrections will mount a full investigation.
Initial reports said the man hijacked a bus heading from the airport to the city but police said there was no hijacking.
One man said the escaped prisoner had taken control of the bus which was made to turn towards the international terminal instead of heading to the city.
The witness said 20 passengers were let off the bus.
TV3 were reporting it as a hijacking, saying the prisioner headed towards the city, letting passengers off at traffic lights.
No word on whether he was Somali, or whether he had more than 25ml of liquid in a clear zip-lock bag.
