Armed gang helps prisoner flee

26 February 2004

VALENCIA – An armed gang helped free a prisoner who was being taken to hospital Thursday.

The prisoner was on his way to the General Hospital in Valencia for radiography treatment when he escaped, prison sources said.

He was being held at Picassent Prison in Valencia.

The Guardia Civil said that at some point the prisoner produced a gun and fled.

A gang of armed men held up the guards who were escorting the prisoner, who is thought to be Rumanian, and he made his getaway.

The prisoner escaped on a motorbike which had been parked near the hospital, sources said.

It was not disclosed what the prisoner had been convicted of or how much was left of his prison sentence.