Samoa: Police shoot out tyres of bus hijacked by prisoners

APIA - Samoan Police have confirmed that 41 prisoners escaped from Tafaigata Prison this morning and hijacked a bus.

The prisoners, who were armed with machetes, walked out on police guards during a morning gathering for the allocation of work duties.

They stopped a bus and hijacked it to take them to the town of Apia. On board were three women and their children.

The prisoners included those convicted for crimes including murder and manslaughter.

In a press briefing a few minutes ago, acting Police Commissioner Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo said the local police were advised by the prison guards of the mass escape.

"We then proceeded to plan a roadblock in Pesega, where we had police vehicles block the road for when they arrive at the lights," Lilomaiava said.

As the bus closed in on the road block, Lilomaiava said it did not look like it would stop, therefore the order was put out to shoot the tyres of the bus.

"It was the only way we could ensure that they are stopped," he told the Samoan media.

Lilomaiava said a police negotiator approached the bus after it had stopped and talked the prisoners into ending the hijacking peacefully.

"After words were exchanged, the police then went on board and escorted them down, the women and children on board were unharmed," he said.

One prisoner remains at large.

The rest were taken into police custody and interviewed.

They are now back behind bars but questions are being asked about why they were able to escape in the first place.

Lilomaiava confirmed the prisoners escaped for the sole reason of addressing issues they are facing in prison directly with the police, however sources close to the incident say the prisoners wanted to head directly to the government building to address their issues with the prime minister.

Some of the issues include hunger, harsh working conditions and negotiation of work loads in the prison grounds.

Asked if police should reconsider issuing machetes to prisoners during work shifts in prison, Lilomaiava said: "And who would do the work?"

Lilomaiava confirmed there had not been enough prison guards and police officers at Tafaigata Prison to stop this morning's incident.