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7 'dangerous' prisoners escape
30/06/2007 22:33 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Seven prisoners regarded as "dangerous" escaped from a holding cell at an Eastern Cape police station on Saturday.
Police spokesperson superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela said the seven, arrested for crimes including murder and armed robbery, overpowered a policeman, grabbed the keys to the holding cell and locked him inside at the Central police station in Mthatha.
"We regard all of them as dangerous and will make sure we put them behind bars," he said.
Fatyela said it was not the first time one of the prisoners had escaped.
"One escaped earlier in the week and we arrested him for the second time at 14:00 and then at 16:45, he escaped again," he said.
The policeman who was found locked in the prisoner's cell was freed but immediately suspended for flouting standard police procedure.
"Police know whenever you visit the cells you cannot go alone, you must always go with someone else," said Fatyela.
The officer will face disciplinary action.
Police urged the public to contact their nearest police station should they have any information on the whereabouts of the seven escapees.
"They are still at large and any clues will help."
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