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John Anslow escape: Reward offered for information | John Anslow escape: Reward offered for information |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A £10,000 reward for information is being offered by police investigating the escape of a man from a prison van. | A £10,000 reward for information is being offered by police investigating the escape of a man from a prison van. |
John Anslow, 31, from Tipton and described as "dangerous", fled when the van was ambushed near Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, on Monday. | |
Mr Anslow, who was on his way to court in Stafford, was charged with murder last week. | Mr Anslow, who was on his way to court in Stafford, was charged with murder last week. |
The force said its investigation was "moving quickly". A man, aged 44, has been arrested over the incident. | The force said its investigation was "moving quickly". A man, aged 44, has been arrested over the incident. |
Police said the man, also from the Tipton area in the West Midlands, was held on suspicion of assisting an offender. | Police said the man, also from the Tipton area in the West Midlands, was held on suspicion of assisting an offender. |
Det Supt Martin Evans, from Staffordshire Police, said: "Our investigation into finding escaped prisoner John Anslow is continuing to move quickly as we follow several lines of inquiry. | Det Supt Martin Evans, from Staffordshire Police, said: "Our investigation into finding escaped prisoner John Anslow is continuing to move quickly as we follow several lines of inquiry. |
"Staffordshire Police is offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to Anslow's arrest and return to prison. | "Staffordshire Police is offering a £10,000 reward for information that leads to Anslow's arrest and return to prison. |
"We're hoping this sizeable reward will encourage those who know where Anslow might be to come forward." | "We're hoping this sizeable reward will encourage those who know where Anslow might be to come forward." |
Balaclava-clad | |
Police are liaising with other forces, the UK Border Agency and foreign authorities as well as alerting all airports and railway stations. | |
West Mercia Police said on Monday three balaclava-clad men, carrying sledgehammers, smashed the windscreen and driver's window of the prison escort van Mr Anslow was as the vehicles were in Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove. | |
The men then fled in a silver Volkswagen Scirocco and detectives said they believed the group had switched to a silver Mercedes car in Stoney Lane, Bromsgrove, afterwards. | |
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke described the incident, which happened at about 08:00 GMT on Monday, as a "well-orchestrated armed ambush". | |
Mr Evans said on Tuesday said that several calls were made to the incident room about possible sightings of the Mercedes after the force's appeal the day before. | |
The Scirocco, with the number plate BT59 NXC, was found abandoned a short distance from the scene, Mr Evans said. | |
He added that he wanted to remind the public that Mr Anslow, the first category A prisoner to escape custody in more than 17 years, was "very dangerous". | |
"Anyone who sees him should not approach him but should ring 999 immediately," he said. | |
"We're directly appealing to friends or associates of Anslow who know where he might be to ring the incident room." |
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