Escape in Bruges: Russian inmate threatens guards to flee hospital
A 31-year-old Russian man, held in custody for robbery with violence, managed to escape Friday from AZ Sint Jan hospital in Bruges by intimidating prison officers with a bladed weapon.
Escape in Bruges: Russian inmate threatens guards to flee hospital
A Russian-born inmate fled Friday morning from AZ Sint Jan hospital in Bruges while being taken there for medical treatment. The individual, Alaouidi Djabrailov, aged 31, managed to escape at around 9.24 a.m. by resorting to violence against the officials accompanying him, according to information published by DHNET and La Libre.
Djabrailov had been extracted from Bruges prison in order to be taken to this health establishment for surgical intervention. During the procedure of having him change clothes, the prisoner allegedly suddenly produced a blade and pointed it at members of the prison staff. Taking advantage of the situation, he forced them to hand over the keys that would unlock his restraints, which opened the way for him to the outside.
At present, the fugitive has not been found. Police services have launched searches over a wide perimeter around the hospital and beyond. The public prosecutor's office for West Flanders, Bruges division, has moreover entrusted the direction of the inquiry to an investigating magistrate.
The authorities quickly issued a call for witnesses. The profile circulated indicates that Djabrailov was wearing black shorts, a light-coloured polo shirt and trainers at the time of his departure. Citizens should be vigilant: the fugitive has shaved off his beard since the photographs used for the notice, so it is possible that he presents a different appearance. Anyone who encounters him is asked not to intervene alone and to immediately alert law enforcement.
The individual was serving a sentence of forty months' imprisonment for facts of robbery aggravated by violence. His release was originally scheduled for March 2028. Even though simple escape from a correctional facility does not incur additional criminal penalties under Belgian law, the actions taken to achieve it — threats and coercion against public officials — may be subject to a separate charge.
Source: DHnet