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Recidivist Panagiotis Vlastos has planned a new escape from Trikala Prison after his first attempt to run away by helicopter failed a few weeks ago. This became clear from a statement of the Greek Police. It is believed, however, that he did not participate in yesterday's group escape of 11 prisoners from the same prison. As press attaché of the Greek police Christos Parthenis reported earlier, the investigation in the prison after the escape revealed 5 razor blades and 4 saws for cutting metal, as well as two knives, in Vlastos’s cell. According to Parthenis, two of the escapees were arrested at 2:00 p.m. in Krynica near Trikala, about 4-5 km away from the prison. Both are Albanians, aged 27 and 30.

According to recent information, the escape was organised by eight prisoners. The plan was carried out with the help of aides of the prisoners, who, on Friday evening, at 8:20 p.m. attacked the prison. Initially, someone threw a flare, and then started shooting at the main building with Kalashnikovs. Two security guards were injured during the gunfire, which opened the way for the escapees. Police forces in the regions of Thessaly, Western Macedonia, Central Greece, Epirus and other areas were immediately notified. Blockades of roads include detention squads’ policemen, police dogs and two police helicopters.

The investigation discovered objects used by the runaways for the escape, such as an improvised ladder made from the ladder of the bunk bed, strips of sheets, ropes and hooks. The van used by the participants in the armed attack was discovered in the agricultural region of Nicaea, near Larissa, around 12:30 in the afternoon and it had already been burned. The investigation is continuing in all directions.

The Ministry of Justice: this is an attack of military type

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice commented on the armed attack of military type with Kalashnikovs and hand grenades. The attack took place in the evening, when the prisoners had not yet gone into their cells, the statement said. According to the Ministry, somebody also fired at a police car that came near the prison, as well as at another car that was parked outside.

The two security guards who were injured during the attack were taken to hospital in Trikala where they were operated on. One is of them is still in the ER.

At the end of the statement, the Ministry noted that the investigation did not lead to the discovery of any weapons or evidence of weapons used by inmates inside the prison during the escape, nevertheless the investigation is continuing in this direction.

Meanwhile, the Greek police also issued a statement saying that they had arrested two of the prisoners. They were discovered in a wooded area about 4-5 km away from the prison around 2:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon. All police forces were stepped up in order to find the escapees from the very first moment.