• Germany edition
Heckhoff (l), and Michalski (r). Photo: DPA

Two dangerous criminals escape Aachen prison

Published: 27 Nov 09 08:35 CET
Updated: 27 Nov 09 15:38 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091127-23551.html

Police have issued a warning to the public after two dangerous criminals escaped from an Aachen prison on Thursday night. The men, who were serving sentences for murder and kidnapping, are believed to be armed.

Police remain unclear on how Michael Heckhoff (50) and Peter Paul Michalski (48) were able to overpower a guard and gatekeeper to make their escape, but know that they forced two taxi drivers to take them to Cologne’s city centre early in the morning. There they fled on foot, after which police lost all traces of their whereabouts, they said.

Police have launched a large-scale manhunt with helicopters and sealed off parts of the city with increased security at train stations and airports.

On Friday afternoon, police said that a witness had reported a "very concrete" sighting of the two escapees outside a hardware store in Dierdorf, a city some 80 kilometres away in the neighbouring state of Rhineland-Palatinate. But checkpoints at various interregional transportation junctions have proved to be fruitless so far, they said.

Anyone who sees the two is advised to keep their distance and notify police immediately.

The Aachen men’s prison from which the men escaped is considered to be among the most modern in Europe. Some 800 of the Germany’s most dangerous criminals are currently serving their sentences there.

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

#1
09:48 November 27, 2009 by Portnoy
Heckhoff is the kidnapper. His accomplice in that crime dumped something flammable on two of the hostages and set them on fire -- they lived.
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#2
12:19 November 27, 2009 by Fredfeldman
I guess its clear why they are both laughing.
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#3
16:50 November 27, 2009 by William Thirteen
so they escaped together thursday night and we're spotted still running together on friday afternoon? seems like going their separate ways would reduce the chances of being recaptured - but maybe they are just playing it for laughs like a buddy picture!
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#4
18:25 November 27, 2009 by Cincinnatus
If they make it to Switzerland, they can bunk at the pedophile chalet of Roman Polanski.
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#5
10:19 November 28, 2009 by pepsionice
If you had to pick a country to "hide"....Germany becomes an interesting choice. There are tens of thousands of acres of heavily forested land where the two could pitch a tent and hide easily. Typically...they never do this....they end up with some old relative or friend, and then they get caught.

I suspect the two have a plan....and are closely following it. This wasn't a spur of the moment thing.
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