Six security prisoners feared to have escaped Gilboa Prison in northern Israel
Prison authorities said Monday morning they feared six security prisoners had escaped from a high-security jail in the country’s north.
Large numbers of police forces were called to the area and were scanning for the six with the help of drones and helicopters.
The six were believed to have dug a tunnel which they used to flee Gilboa Prison, located northwest of Beit She’an, near the Sea of Galilee. They were reported missing around 4 a.m., but may have fled hours earlier.
According to Hebrew media reports, the six were all in jail for life in connection with deadly attacks against Israelis, and all were considered highly dangerous. Three of them had attempted escape in the past.
An unnamed police source told Channel 12 the incident appeared to be “one of the gravest incidents” in recent memory.
One of the escaped prisoners is believed to be Zakaria Zubeidi, a former commander in Jenin of Fatah’s military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, who was convicted in several deadly attacks.
The other five prisoners were said to be members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group who are also from the northern West Bank city of Jenin, where celebratory gunfire was reported Monday morning.
האסירים שעל פי החשד ברחו הלילה מכלא שיטה (הגלבוע) הכי מוכר זכריא זביידי איש הפת”ח. השאר מהגיהאד האסלאמי. pic.twitter.com/zx9mlyUlko
— Jack khoury.جاك خوري (@KhJacki) September 6, 2021
According to Channel 13, officials believe the six will attempt to flee to either Jordan or Jenin.
The military was readying to place checkpoints around Jenin amid concerns, the Ynet news site reported.
The Israel Prisons Service said only that it was looking into the incident.
זו המנהרה שבאמצעותה ברחו המחבלים מהכלא pic.twitter.com/IYfiXS1pDG
— לירן לוי Liran Levi (@liran__levi) September 6, 2021
Police spokesperson told the Kan public broadcaster that there were not currently any security advisories in place for residents of the area following the incident, but urged them to exercise increased vigiliance.