Two prisoners escape after gang of five wearing balaclavas smash car into their van 'on way to court'

Two prisoners were today on the run after escaping from custody when a prison van was attacked.
Five men wearing balaclavas ambushed the van at 9am and witnesses reported seeing them running away from the vehicle on Regent Road in Salford, Greater Manchester, with its windows smashed.
One man was then seen without a helmet on the back of a motorbike as it left the scene at high speed - and five men were spotted running to a nearby parked car before driving off.

Investigation: The GEOAmey prison van was on Regent Road with its side door open and glass all over the road

A large number of police officers were sent to the scene after reports that two men had escaped.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a green car drive across the carriageway of the road before smashing into the side of the white van, before a group of men ran into the nearby Ordsall estate.
One said: ‘I crossed the road and saw a dark green car with three men in it. They had balaclavas on. I thought it was a bit strange and walked past and kept looking back to see what the car was doing.
‘I then saw it pull across the road straight into the side of the transit van and (the men) smashed the windscreens. I kept walking and called the police and I could hear the smashing of screens.

Attack: Shortly after 9am, police were called to Regent Road (file picture) in Salford, Greater Manchester

‘I looked back because I'd heard some more shouts and there were some men running towards me so I just sprinted as fast I could into the estate. I was pretty scared, to be honest.’

'There were some men running towards me so I just sprinted as fast I could. I was pretty scared'

Eyewitness

One eyewitness described how the GEOAmey prison van was on the Manchester-bound carriageway of Regent Road, with its side door open and glass all over the road.
About 150 yards further along the road, on the opposite carriageway, a dark-green Saab had been abandoned in the road, surrounded by a police van and a police car.
Both the prison van and the Saab were cordoned off by police tape while officers searched the area for clues. A police helicopter called India 99 could be seen hovering overhead.
There was a huge police presence in the area around Salford, including police dogs, as the hunt continued for the men who it is believed have been sprung from the van.

Location: The street is a main road into Manchester is around half a mile from the city's crown court

Two years ago: The rush-hour raid took place just off the same stretch of road as a similar attack on a prison van in July 2011, which saw Liverpool gangsters Tony Downes (left) and Kirk Bradley (right) escape

Greater Manchester Police Chief Superintendent Kevin Mulligan, said: ‘To reassure those that live nearby there is a significant police presence in the area.

'To reassure those that live nearby there is a significant police presence in the area'

Kevin Mulligan, GMP Chief Supt

‘At this stage we do not believe that there is any ongoing threat to the community and we would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact the police as soon as possible.’
The street is a main road into Manchester is around half a mile from the city's crown court and Strangeways prison. The van was believed to have been delivering prisoners to court.
The rush-hour raid was just off the same stretch of road as a similar attack on a prison van.
Liverpool gangsters Tony Downes and Kirk Bradley escaped in the ambush in July 2011 as they were being taken from Strangeways jail to their trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
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