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| 'Most wanted' escapee Kirk Bradley held in Amsterdam | 'Most wanted' escapee Kirk Bradley held in Amsterdam |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| One of the UK's most wanted escaped prisoners has been arrested in Amsterdam, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has said. | One of the UK's most wanted escaped prisoners has been arrested in Amsterdam, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has said. |
| Kirk Bradley fled from a prison van in Manchester last July, it said. | Kirk Bradley fled from a prison van in Manchester last July, it said. |
| Soca said he was arrested with his uncle on Wednesday night. | Soca said he was arrested with his uncle on Wednesday night. |
| He was found guilty in his absence of firearms offences after a series of shootings and an incident where a hand grenade was found at the home of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. | He was found guilty in his absence of firearms offences after a series of shootings and an incident where a hand grenade was found at the home of Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. |
| Anthony Downes, who was convicted of the same charges and escaped with Bradley, was captured in Goes, Zeeland, in March while checking into holiday accommodation. | Anthony Downes, who was convicted of the same charges and escaped with Bradley, was captured in Goes, Zeeland, in March while checking into holiday accommodation. |
| Bradley, who was arrested at what Soca described as his "luxury apartment", is expected to be returned to the UK to serve his life jail term. | Bradley, who was arrested at what Soca described as his "luxury apartment", is expected to be returned to the UK to serve his life jail term. |
| 'Very dangerous' | |
| Soca's head of European operations Ian Milne said Bradley had had "no idea we were on to him". | Soca's head of European operations Ian Milne said Bradley had had "no idea we were on to him". |
| "Joint working with Merseyside Police and the Amsterdam Police has led to the capture of these two violent and dangerous individuals," he said. | "Joint working with Merseyside Police and the Amsterdam Police has led to the capture of these two violent and dangerous individuals," he said. |
| "They are now back behind bars where they belong. This shows that criminals who flee to other countries are not beyond our reach." | "They are now back behind bars where they belong. This shows that criminals who flee to other countries are not beyond our reach." |
| Bradley and Downes, who described themselves as "blood brothers" at trial, ran a criminal network between 2009 and 2010. | |
| The gang carried out shootings and operated on behalf of others in the Liverpool underworld. | |
| 'No place to hide' | |
| The grenade was left on Mr Dalglish's front wall in July 2009, when he was not Liverpool's manager, but it was not intended for him. | |
| The pair, along with three others, were jailed after being convicted in their absence of firearms charges at Woolwich Crown Court in March. | The pair, along with three others, were jailed after being convicted in their absence of firearms charges at Woolwich Crown Court in March. |
| At the trial, the judge said Bradley, who was first convicted of robbery aged 15, was "plainly a very dangerous man". | At the trial, the judge said Bradley, who was first convicted of robbery aged 15, was "plainly a very dangerous man". |
| Supt Richie Davies, of Merseyside Police, said the "capture of Bradley, and Downes before him, underlines Merseyside's commitment to work with other authorities to ensure that serious criminals have no place to hide". | Supt Richie Davies, of Merseyside Police, said the "capture of Bradley, and Downes before him, underlines Merseyside's commitment to work with other authorities to ensure that serious criminals have no place to hide". |
| His comments were echoed by Arno Julsing, chief of detectives for the Amsterdam Police, said Bradley's capture was the result of "fantastic" collaboration with "British colleagues". | His comments were echoed by Arno Julsing, chief of detectives for the Amsterdam Police, said Bradley's capture was the result of "fantastic" collaboration with "British colleagues". |
| "Together we have managed to apprehend many dozens of dangerous criminals in the last couple of years," he said. | "Together we have managed to apprehend many dozens of dangerous criminals in the last couple of years," he said. |
| "Our message 'Amsterdam is not the place to be' has apparently been heard. Those who still don't get it will be traced, arrested and handed over to the British authorities." | "Our message 'Amsterdam is not the place to be' has apparently been heard. Those who still don't get it will be traced, arrested and handed over to the British authorities." |
| Merseyside Police said Bradley's uncle, Raymond Bradley, from Woolton, Liverpool, who was also arrested in the Amsterdam raid, was being held on suspicion of possession of cocaine with intent to supply. |