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- *Five awaiting trial prisoners escaped from the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
- Police managed to trace one of them; four are still on the run.
- The escapees are wanted for various charges, including murder.
The Western Cape police's Anti-Gang Unit is spearheading a manhunt for four armed and dangerous escapees who absconded from the holding cells of the Athlone Magistrate's Court in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon.
The awaiting trial prisoners were in the process of being transported to a correctional holding facility after their respective court appearances earlier in the day.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said *five escaped - but they had managed to trace and apprehend one of them.
The other four are still at large.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the detainees overpowered one of the police officials and disarmed him. Several shots were fired in the direction of the police officials, but no one was hit or wounded," said Pojie.
The escapees are accused of serious offences, such as murder, attempted murder, assault, aggravated robbery, and possession of stolen property.
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"An appeal is made to the community to please refrain from approaching or confronting these escapees as they are deemed to be armed and dangerous," said Pojie.
Police warned members of the public to report any suspicious persons or the whereabouts of these escapees to the nearest police station.
Cases of escape from lawful custody, attempted murder, and robbery of a firearm have all been registered at the Athlone police station.
"Our provincial detectives will probe that," said Pojie.
Information about the escapees can be reported to Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or Captain Jacques Cussel directly at 079 894 1637.
*EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that police officially revised the number of escapees to five, from an initial count of six. (12/10/23)
