Μake us preferred on Google Armed accomplices disguised as police officers stormed the Serres Hospital late Friday and freed a career criminal who had been taken there for medical treatment, reportedly disarming the real officers guarding him before fleeing with the inmate.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, according to initial reports. The assailants were reportedly disguised as members of the special police operations unit, according to public broadcaster ERT, and allegedly disarmed the officers accompanying the prisoner, taking their service weapons.
The armed men then took the inmate and escaped from the hospital without being detected by staff or members of the public, prompting police to launch a manhunt for both the prisoner and his accomplices.
The inmate is described as a hardened criminal who, according to reports, had previously opened fire in Thessaloniki in broad daylight. Police operations to locate him and the other suspects were continuing.
Authorities also reportedly located a vehicle fitted with fake license plates that is believed to have been used by the inmate and his accomplices to escape.
The incident comes amid a series of recent prison and hospital escapes that have raised questions over the security of inmates receiving medical treatment and the supervision of prisoners outside correctional facilities.
In February, a 47-year-old inmate escaped from an intensive care unit at a hospital in northern Greece while being treated under police guard after suffering a heart attack. He reportedly opened a window, climbed onto a neighboring balcony and fled the hospital grounds, despite still being connected to intravenous lines. He was recaptured several days later following a police operation.
In June, a 48-year-old inmate escaped from Korydallos Prison, Greece’s largest correctional facility, while carrying out work duties. Two prison officers were arrested in connection with the escape, while disciplinary and criminal investigations were launched. Security footage later showed the prisoner fleeing the facility in broad daylight.
In April, three escaped convicts with felonious criminal records were arrested in western Greece after allegedly attempting an armed robbery at a family home. The men had previously escaped custody and were wanted on serious criminal charges, including murder.
