Prisoner escapes in armed hold-up

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Wayne Connor, 20, was snatched as he travelled to court from Feltham Young Offenders' Institution in west London.

Police said Connor escaped when two men wearing balaclavas smashed the driver's side window and threatened the officer with the gun.

They demanded the driver, who was accompanied by a second member of staff, release Connor from the rear of the six-cell van.

Connor was due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court alongside co-defendant Jason McInerney, 21, who also escaped from custody last year, and a third man.

The trio were due to face charges of racially-aggravated assault during a burglary in West Drayton, on August 4 last year. McInerney was recaptured several days later. He is not believed to have been in the van with Connor.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a huge manhunt involving a police helicopter, specialist search teams and dog handlers. Investigators sealed off several roads and removed the prisoner van on the back of a low-loader lorry for further forensic examination.

Witnesses said Connor was driven off in a dark blue car after the ambush in Bedfont Road, near Bedfont Lake, Feltham, at about 7.30am.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Inspector Alan Holford warned the public not to approach Connor or his accomplices. He said Connor, a traveller with connections in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, has a history of violence.

Mr Holford said: "Mr Connor and the men with him are known to use aliases and false documents. They used violence today and have access to weapons. We also know that Mr Connor and the men with him use hotels so we are appealing to staff in hotels to keep an eye out for him."