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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Gang frees man from security van | Gang frees man from security van |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A man in police custody has escaped after three men armed with knives attacked a security van outside a magistrates court. | A man in police custody has escaped after three men armed with knives attacked a security van outside a magistrates court. |
| The men took Aaron Williams from a GSL security van outside the court in Salford on Thursday morning. | |
| The driver was punched in the face during the incident and suffered swelling, police said. | The driver was punched in the face during the incident and suffered swelling, police said. |
| Mr Williams, 21, from Lower Broughton, was due before magistrates after being arrested for not appearing in court. | Mr Williams, 21, from Lower Broughton, was due before magistrates after being arrested for not appearing in court. |
| He was detained for failing to appear on a theft charge and was being transferred from Swinton police station to court following his arrest on Wednesday. | He was detained for failing to appear on a theft charge and was being transferred from Swinton police station to court following his arrest on Wednesday. |
| Greater Manchester Police said they were alerted to reports that three men had attacked the security van just after 0750 GMT. | Greater Manchester Police said they were alerted to reports that three men had attacked the security van just after 0750 GMT. |
| When this level of extreme violence is offered or used there is very little that we can do GSL security spokesman | When this level of extreme violence is offered or used there is very little that we can do GSL security spokesman |
| Services company GSL, which was responsible for the transfer, described the escape as a "very serious incident". | Services company GSL, which was responsible for the transfer, described the escape as a "very serious incident". |
| It said the van was waiting to go through a barrier to enter the court's secure car park when it was targeted. | It said the van was waiting to go through a barrier to enter the court's secure car park when it was targeted. |
| "Our prisoner custody officers have been threatened with violence and one has received injuries which we think are as a result of being punched," a spokesman said. | "Our prisoner custody officers have been threatened with violence and one has received injuries which we think are as a result of being punched," a spokesman said. |
| "This is a very unusual incident. When this level of extreme violence is offered or used there is very little that we can do. | "This is a very unusual incident. When this level of extreme violence is offered or used there is very little that we can do. |
| "Obviously we are assisting the police in every way." | "Obviously we are assisting the police in every way." |
| Aaron Williams was arrested for failing to appear at court | Aaron Williams was arrested for failing to appear at court |
| Forensic teams examined the white Mercedes van, before towing it away for further tests. | Forensic teams examined the white Mercedes van, before towing it away for further tests. |
| Although the incident happened at the back of the court building, two police cars were parked in front while normal court business carried on. | Although the incident happened at the back of the court building, two police cars were parked in front while normal court business carried on. |
| Student Iain Wilson, 25, of nearby Kays Gardens, who can see the security gates from the rear of his property, said he thought the escape was "inevitable". | Student Iain Wilson, 25, of nearby Kays Gardens, who can see the security gates from the rear of his property, said he thought the escape was "inevitable". |
| "You often see up to three security vans queuing outside to get to the yard of the court," he said. | "You often see up to three security vans queuing outside to get to the yard of the court," he said. |
| "I think they can only process one van at a time inside so the others have to wait outside with the prisoners inside the vans. | "I think they can only process one van at a time inside so the others have to wait outside with the prisoners inside the vans. |
| "You have a situation where each security guard has to get out of their vehicle and press a buzzer on the wall outside to get in rather than automatically go through." | "You have a situation where each security guard has to get out of their vehicle and press a buzzer on the wall outside to get in rather than automatically go through." |
| GSL Services is responsible for conducting about 700 prisoner transfers across the UK every year. | GSL Services is responsible for conducting about 700 prisoner transfers across the UK every year. |