Prisoner opens fire, escapes in front of Cambodian courthouse

A prisoner was handed a gun by an accomplice immediately after exiting a transport vehicle, fired at police, and then escaped from the Svay Rieng provincial court.

Six prisoners from an online gambling ring in Cambodia opened fire to escape immediately after being brought to the Svay Rieng provincial court this morning.

Security camera footage showed a woman in black, wearing a cap and face mask, waiting in the courthouse compound around 8:50 am, minutes before the prisoner transport vehicle entered the gate.

An accomplice handed a prisoner a gun, threatening police, and escaping from a Cambodian courthouse on 18/11. Video: Khmer Times.

When the vehicle stopped and security personnel began escorting the group of six prisoners out, the woman approached one of them and quickly handed over a gun. Two police officers, armed with batons, noticed her unusual action but could not intervene in time.

With the gun, a prisoner immediately pointed it at the escorting police and fired at least two shots to threaten them. Hearing the gunshots, four unarmed police officers fled, some stumbling and crawling behind an oto for cover.

Cambodian officials later confirmed no one was injured in the incident. Local police returned fire and tried to stop the escaping prisoners but could not prevent them from getting into two waiting otos. Prison guards, police, and the Cambodian military launched an urgent manhunt for the escapees.

After several hours of pursuit, police recaptured one member, described as the group's "leader," after their vehicle drove into a field. The five remaining prisoners and the female accomplice are still at large.