NEWS

Police lose two cuffed criminals

Four handcuffed Albanian criminals managed to escape yesterday from a well-guarded police van in Piraeus while being transferred from prison to prison. Two of the dangerous convicts – who were handcuffed in pairs – were almost immediately recaptured after a quick-thinking passer-by tripped them up as they ran past. The other two, an armed robber and a murderer serving long sentences, remained at large late yesterday, despite a wide-ranging police manhunt. The fugitives were identified as Albert Brakats, 25, who was sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery and theft, and Kristi Janku, 23, who was serving a 25-year term for murder, armed robbery and theft. The escapees were among a group of 19 Albanian criminals being transferred from prison in Crete to penitentiaries in other parts of Greece. When the police van – in which 10 guards were riding – stopped outside a Piraeus temporary detention center, some of the prisoners created a diversion while the four made a run for it. A police inquiry has been ordered into the escape.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.