Dutch police foil high-security prison break
January 20, 2020
Dutch police on Sunday arrested four people suspected of involvement in a botched prison break at a high-security facility.
"Several persons tried to breach the prison, but the attempt was foiled," Dutch police said in a statement. "The suspects' involvement in the escape attempt is being probed."
Authorities were alerted to the possible prison break after a delivery van was set alight in the facility's parking lot.
Read more: Germany: Teenager breaks into jail to save relationship with girlfriend
Germany joins manhunt
The four suspects were apprehended following a cross-agency effort that brought together Dutch border police, detectives and even the German police.
Dutch police said "no one escaped."
Read more: Prison blues? Italian startup gives inmates a break
Turf wars
Local media suggested that the breakout attempt targeted a man by the name of Omar L., who was reportedly jailed for life for involvement in two murders and three attempted murders.
A turf war between rival gangs in vying for power for Amsterdam's lucrative black market has led to more than 20 killings. In 2017, police shot dead a man and arrested several others for attempting a prison break using a stolen helicopter.
Read more: Turkey: Babies behind bars
ls/kl (AFP, Reuters)