In the U.S. state of Louisiana, ten inmates escaped from a correctional facility in Baton Rouge overnight on Friday, according to Reuters. The escape took place at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and is being described as one of the most audacious jailbreaks in recent years.
According to investigators, the inmates acted in coordination and had planned the escape in advance. First, they broke through the sliding doors of their cell, then tore a metal sink and toilet out of their fittings. This created an opening through which they punched a hole in the wall that led to a utility corridor, allowing them to slip out of the secured area.
Before fleeing, the escapees left a drawn smiley face on the wall along with several messages, including: “We are innocent” and “That was too easy, lol.” The graffiti suggests a mocking attitude toward the prison staff and confidence in their plan’s success.
Within a few hours, two of the escapees were recaptured. One was found hiding under a car in a hotel parking lot in New Orleans’ French Quarter, about 130 kilometers from the prison. The second was apprehended in a nearby suburb as he attempted to find shelter.
The remaining eight inmates are still at large. Local police, with the assistance of the FBI, are actively searching for them. Authorities warn that the escapees may be armed and could pose a threat to the public.
An internal investigation into prison security procedures has been launched. A representative of the prison administration acknowledged that there were “serious vulnerabilities” in the facility’s security system that enabled the inmates to carry out such an unusual escape.
