GUATEMALA: OFFICIALS ARREST DIRECTORS OF MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AFTER 78 PRISONERS ESCAPE OVER WEEKEND

Record ID: 646721

  • Title: GUATEMALA: OFFICIALS ARREST DIRECTORS OF MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AFTER 78 PRISONERS ESCAPE OVER WEEKEND
  • Date: 19th June 2001
  • Summary: ESQUINTLA, GUATEMALA (JUNE 17, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR OF 'EL INFIERNITO' PRISON; SCU COVERED BODY OF DEAD PRISON GUARD; MV SECURITY GUARD WAITING IN GRASS WITH RIFLES AIMED; SCU SECURITY GUARD AIMING GUN AT PRISON EXIT; SLV EXTERIOR OF PRISON (5 SHOTS) 0.34 2. SLV SECURITY OFFICIALS WALKING; SCU SECURITY POLICE WITH GUN 0.38 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLICE OFFICER, MARIO SARMIENTOS SAYING "We got a saying that inside of the maximum security prison located in Esquintla, a massive prison escape was taking place. so we immediately posted a great deal of elements in various locations." 0.55 4. MV SECURITY POLICE WALKING; MV RECAPTURED PRISONER WEARING HANDCUFFS (3 SHOTS) 1.24 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTOR, ENIO RIVERA, SAYING "What we are doing is working on getting these inmates back into prison and we are investigating the internal part of this. As police officers, we are doing our job." 1.36 6. SLV SECURITY POLICE RUNNING TO HELICOPTER; TRACKING SHOT POLICE IN BACK OF TRUCK; SLV POLICE CARS ON SIDE OF ROAD (3 SHOTS) 2.00 7. SLV POLICE FRISKING BUS PASSENGERS; SCU RECAPTURED PRISONERS; SCU HANDCUFFED PRISONERS BEING LOADED ONTO TRUCK (6 SHOTS) 2.49 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ESQUINTLA, GUATEMALA
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RBPSP5L6IL8TYRQQQHNXZXP4
  • Story Text: Officials have arrested the directors of Guatemala's
    maximum-security prison after 78 prisoners escaped over the
    weekend in the biggest jail break in the country's history.

    The escaped prisoners included kidnappers, murderers,
    rapists and drug traffickers who used assault weapons,
    automatic pistols and grenades to escape from the prison in
    the department of Escuintla 34 miles (55 km) south of the
    capital.

    According reports, the prisoners had to get through 24 different
    locks and sophisticated security systems to break out.

    Among those escaped are six men whose death sentences were
    confirmed by an appeals court last week, for the 1998
    kidnapping and killing of a university student.

    Nine of the fugitives were recaptured moments after the
    escape, while two more died trying to cross a river near the prison.

    Police officer Mario Sarmiento said: "We got a saying that
    inside of the maximum security prison located in Esquintla, a
    massive prison escape was taking place. so we immediately
    posted a great deal of elements in various locations."
    National Police direcotr Enio Rivera said:
    "What we are doing is working on getting these inmates back
    into prison and we are investigating the internal part of
    this. As police officers, we are doing our job."
    According to local radio reports, about 30 of the
    fugitives held up a bus with 14 passengers aboard, which they
    used as a getaway vehicle.

    "We escaped because the doors were opened, said Walter
    Castillo, one of the recaptured prisoners, who was interviewed
    on Radio Sonora as he was carried in a police patrol car.

    Defense Minister Eduardo Arevalo told reporters that more
    than 1,000 army soldiers were working with police in a massive
    manhunt in mountains and forests near the prison.

    In the last major Guatemalan jail break 10 dangerous
    prisoners escaped from a Guatemala City prison in January
    2000. Only three of them have been recaptured.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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