Guard shot in jailbreak

A PRISON officer was shot and injured last night when six prisoners attempted to escape from a maximum security jail in Cambridgeshire, writes Danny Penman.

Police said four prisoners were captured within the Whitemoor Prison compound at about 8.10pm, but two others got away, shooting at prison officers as they fled. They were on the run for about two hours before being captured a few miles from the prison. Police dogs, armed officers and a helicopter drafted in from Essex were used in the chase.

The prison officer who was shot suffered only superficial injuries. It is not yet known how the six inmates - who are all are Category-A prisoners - obtained a gun.

Whitemoor was built about two- and-a-half years ago to house some of the country's most dangerous criminals. Inmates include rapists, murderers and IRA terrorists.