Convicts tunnel out of prison El Chapo-style, hunt continues – Firstpost

Six convicts left a Russian prison in Lipetsk, which led to a manhunt. Four have been recaptured, while authorities are stepping up efforts to find the remaining two

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Russian authorities launched a manhunt on Saturday after six convicts escaped from a correctional facility in the Lipetsk region by tunneling their way through an incident that sparked concern in local communities.

Of the six fugitives, four have been apprehended, although security forces continue to pursue the other two. “I understand that this news may cause concern, but please do not panic,” said Ihor Artamonov, the governor of the Western Lipetsk region. “The law enforcement officers continue their work on the search and arrest of criminals,” he assured.

The escape became known during a routine inspection, when guards discovered an underground passage on the territory of correctional colony No. 2. “In general regime colony No. 2, an underground passage was discovered during a tour of the premises”, this is stated in the message of the pre-trial detention center of the Lipetsk region. “Immediately the count of convicts began, which revealed the absence of six prisoners.”

The identities of the fugitives have not been disclosed, although the prison service called them “from Central Asia.” The authorities report that four fugitives have been detained so far, two of them were detained in the neighboring Tambov region. “The search for the remaining two criminals continues,” the governor confirmed.

Lipetsk, a region about 300 kilometers (190 miles) south of Moscow, is no stranger to criminal activity, although prison escapes are rare in Russia.

Despite the large number of prisoners last year – more than 400,000 people – escapes are rare, and those who do manage to escape are often caught quickly. Recently, the number of convicts has been decreasing, in particular due to the increase in the number of convicts sent to participate in hostilities in Ukraine.

As the search continues, local law enforcement remains on high alert and residents are urged to remain vigilant. Authorities have not yet released more details about the circumstances of the escape or any updates on the ongoing search.