Immigrants escape from police HQ

The police were yesterday searching for two illegal immigrants who escaped from the detention centre at police headquarters in Floriana on Thursday.

The police said three immigrants had cut an opening in a fence at the back of the complex and scaled down a wall at about 6.30 p.m.

One of them was nabbed some time later by the police but the others are still on the run.

Sources said a policeman was hospitalised overnight for observation after he was injured while chasing the escapee. The sources said the immigrant had hid near the car of a police sergeant who happened to be walking towards the vehicle after finishing his shift.

The immigrant dashed off as soon as he saw the officer coming nearer and the police gave chase, eventually catching up with him near the Public Library at Beltissebh.

On January 20, another three illegal immigrants escaped from the detention centre after they cut through a fence and climbed down a bastion wall by means of bed sheets.

Two of them were apprehended although two policemen were injured when the immigrants resisted arrest.

The police said the third immigrant is still at large.