Five dangerous prisoners made a daring escape from Portugal’s high-security Alcoentre prison, with help from accomplices outside. The inmates scaled a 6-meter wall and fled the scene in two cars waiting for them. Despite being a high-security facility, the prison lacked towers that could have prevented the escape, authorities said. The convicts are still at large, prompting authorities to issue a warning to the public and urging international cooperation to capture them.
The escape was well-planned, with the inmates taking advantage of a moment when the guards were preoccupied with monitoring prison visits. The lack of towers in the prison’s design played a crucial role in the success of the escape, according to prison officials. The fugitives had accomplices waiting for them outside, indicating that the escape was orchestrated with support from the outside. Portuguese authorities are on high alert and have intensified efforts to locate and apprehend the escaped prisoners.
The escaped convicts were identified as Fábio Fernandes Santos Loureiro, Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira, Rodolf José Lohrmann, Shergili Farjiani, and Mark Cameron Roscaleer. Loureiro and Ferreira were serving lengthy sentences for crimes including drug trafficking, robbery, and kidnapping. Lohrmann is a suspect in the murders of prominent politicians’ children in Argentina, in addition to other crimes. Roscaleer was convicted of kidnapping and robbery, while Farjiani was serving time for theft, violence, and forgery of documents.
Authorities have warned the public not to approach the escaped prisoners, as they are considered dangerous and have a history of violence. Instead, individuals who come across any of the fugitives are instructed to call emergency services immediately. International cooperation has been requested to aid in the capture of the escaped prisoners, as efforts to locate them continue. Despite intensive searches and investigations, the convicts remain at large, posing a threat to public safety.
The escape from Alcoentre prison has raised concerns about security measures in Portuguese prisons, particularly the decision to deactivate the towers that provided surveillance of the premises. The president of the Prison Guard Union highlighted the importance of having guard towers and a permanent presence in them to prevent such escapes. The breach in security at the high-security facility has prompted calls for a review of prison security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In light of the escape, authorities have stepped up efforts to gather information on the whereabouts of the fugitives, including examining visitation records and telephone calls made by the escaped prisoners. The search for the escaped convicts has been ongoing since the escape occurred, with law enforcement agencies working tirelessly to locate and apprehend them. The involvement of international law enforcement agencies has been crucial in coordinating efforts to track down the escaped prisoners and ensure their swift capture.
