afrol News, 16 March - Two Moroccan nations have been named in an international security alert, or Orange Notice, that has been issued by INTERPOL today, following a jail-break in Belgium.

The alert was published following Sunday morning’s escape from the prison in Nivelles, south of the Belgian capital.

The two Moroccan fugitives - Mustapha Lahnachi, aged 30, who was serving a sentence for rape, distributing and possessing drugs, and for illegally entering the country, and Ahmed Yaagoubi, aged 45, who was serving a sentence for distributing and possessing drugs - broke out of jial after allegedly taking a prison guard hostage with a knife, said the Interpol statement, also adding that a third escapee, whose nationality was not given, was later recaptured.

Sent via its secure police communications network to all of INTERPOL’s 187 member countries, the Orange Notice includes identifying details - such as fingerprints and photographs of each of the fugitives to help law enforcement officers worldwide in their search and eventual identification when located and arrested. The Orange Notice also strongly recommends that INTERPOL’s member countries alert their relevant border authorities and specialist units responsible for fugitives.

“Experience has shown us that making key identification elements and information available to officers on the ground is crucial to efforts to locate and arrest fugitives, as it severely limits their movements and ability to cross borders,” said INTERPOL's Executive Director for Police Services Jean-Michel Louboutin.

“We commend the Belgian authorities for alerting the global law enforcement community to the escape of these dangerous individuals by asking for INTERPOL's assistance, since this will ensure that all INTERPOL member countries are made aware of the potential danger that these men represent to the public at large,” the statement added.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories