Canberra prisoner on the run after car rammed

A prisoner is on the run in Canberra after the medical transfer vehicle he was in was rammed in what’s been described as a scene from a Hollywood movie.

A prisoner is on the run after the medical transfer vehicle he was in was rammed in what’s believed to be a deliberate prison break.

The escapee was being taken to Canberra Hospital from the AMC detention centre for medical treatment when the vehicle he was in was rammed by a white Jeep 4WD about 4.10pm on Oxley St in Griffith.

ACT Policing Detective Acting Inspector Shane Scott said the accident was a deliberate attempt to break the prisoner free.

ACT Policing Detective Acting Inspector Shane Scott said police do not believe the man is dangerous but urged the community to be cautious.

“As a result of the collision a prisoner who was in transport has escaped that vehicle and departed in a Jeep which was found burnt out later on so, yes, it was deliberate.”

Police say the prisoner, who is described as a 28-year-old male with a brown rat’s tail, tattoos on his right upper arm and a blue jumper and tracksuit pants, is not dangerous but people should be on high alert.

“At this point in time we don’t have any information to suggest he’s dangerous but given he’s escaped in broad daylight from corrections we’re treating it with more caution,” Insp Scott said.

The prisoner, who was handcuffed at the time, left the scene in a Jeep with a female driver, described as being in her 20s with long, straight, mousy-blonde hair and a black face mask.

Insp Scott said he had never seen a prison break of this nature in his time in the police force.

“I’ve been a police officer for a long time and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s a bit like a scene out of a Hollywood movie.”

There have not yet been any sightings of the prisoner.

If either of these people are located, people are urged not to approach them and but to police immediately on 131 444.