On Saturday night, two Spanish prisoners managed to escape from the Picassent prison, located near Valencia, exploiting the excitement created by the live broadcast of the highly anticipated football match between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. The prisoners, identified as 43-year-old Sergio Cabello Domínguez and 39-year-old David Montejano García, both of whom had previous convictions, took advantage of the uproar among other inmates during the match to execute their elaborate escape plan.
According to reports from Las Provincias and confirmed by EL PAÍS, the pair executed their escape shortly after the mandatory headcount at approximately 21:00, when both were still confirmed to be present. The escape unfolded over the next two and half hours, culminating shortly after the game concluded around 23:00 when prison guards conducted their first evening security round.
The two inmates began their escape by first forcing the bars of their window—some reports suggest they might have cut them rather than bent them. They then crafted makeshift ropes from knotted sheets to lower themselves down to the prison grounds below. Meanwhile, the tumult from the enthusiastic football fans inside the prison, which included inmates banging on their cell doors and shouting, masked any noise generated by these actions.
Once they made it to the ground, Cabello and Montejano approached the large entrance gate typically used for vehicle access. They managed to force this gate open, slipping outside and effectively disappearing before day breaks, undetected by the guards.
The escape raised immediate alarms, prompting responses from local security forces. García, who is considered potentially dangerous and could be armed, prompted intensive searches across the district. The Guardia Civil launched operations aiming to locate the fugitives, implementing checks on nearby roads and highways.
Official sources have stated the importance of reviewing the night patrol procedures to determine whether security measures failed during this incident. The Spanish prison system, known for its strict and secure environment, seldom experiences successful escapes such as this. Most previous instances typically occur during transfers to hospitals or other outside engagements.
Commenting on the situation, representatives from the Acaip-UGT union expressed grave concerns about the conditions of the Picassent prison, which they claim has outdated facilities and malfunctioning security systems. This incident has reignited calls for significant reforms within the institution. “The facilities are old, and many passive safety systems are not functioning. The current setup fails to accommodate inmates with complex profiles,” said the spokesperson.
This escape adds to the tally of notable prison breaks within Spain, with figures indicating approximately twenty-four successful evaders since 2003. This statistic stands in sharp comparison to the over 10,000 instances of inmates breaching their sentences, primarily due to untimely returns from temporary leaves.
Potential changes to protocols could be on the horizon. Following the earlier major escape of Yousef Mohamed Lehrech, who left Alcalá-Meco prison last year, authorities have expressed intentions to revise security measures. The continuous scrutiny on existing procedures, stemming from such incidents, might lead to stricter operational standards across Spanish penitentiaries to prevent future occurrences.
The Picassent escape reveals glaring vulnerabilities within prison systems, urging stakeholders to address these concerns before they result in more serious consequences. Investigative teams are now tasked with determining exactly how the prisoners received assistance or secured their escape unassisted, as well as what necessary protocol amendments may need to follow.
With the search actively underway, updates from local law enforcement are anticipated, as citizens hope for swift outcomes amid heightened security concerns following this alarming breach. All eyes remain fixed on the developments of this tale penned under the unforgiving light of the justice system’s walls.
