In a dramatic jailbreak, five inmates, including a Briton, an Argentinian, a Georgian, and two Portuguese nationals, escaped from the Vale de Judeus high-security prison located about 30 km north of Lisbon. According to Portuguese authorities, the prisoners, aged between 33 and 61, managed to flee at 10 a.m. with the help of a ladder, which allowed them to scale the prison walls.

The Portuguese prison service confirmed that the two Portuguese escapees were serving long sentences for crimes including drug trafficking, theft, robbery, and kidnapping. The other three inmates had also been convicted of serious offences such as theft and kidnapping.

Reuters reported that the prison guards’ union president, Frederico Morais, criticized the state for the security failure, citing a lack of investment and insufficient prison staff. The Ministry of Justice has not yet commented on the escape.

Police forces have been deployed to capture the escapees. The prison, which houses up to 560 inmates, is known for its high-security measures.