Inmate escapes after attacking Dubai police officer

Dubai: A Dubai Police lieutenant sustained serious injuries after a prisoner attacked him before escaping briefly from custody in a first of its kind incident here.

The incident took place while three prisoners were being brought from Dubai Central Jail in Al Aweer to Anti-narcotics Department in Al Qusais on Saturday to carry out tests on them to determine whether they have taken narcotics.

Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, on Monday told a press conference that the prisoners were brought for tests after police arrested an Asian man who smuggled in narcotics to the prisoners.

The Asian man worked for a company that provided food for prisoners. He had agreed with some people outside the jail to smuggle in narcotics for certain prisoners.

Several cases

After arresting the Asian man, three Emirati prisoners were brought to the anti-narcotics department to take samples and carry out tests.

Major General Al Mazeina said the three prisoners have criminal records and each of them is serving jail terms between 13 and 24 years for crimes of attempted suicide, threatening, attacks, thefts, drug addiction and rape.

"The three prisoners forcefully resisted the police officer and policemen in an attempt to escape. Police were able to control two of them, but one of them attacked the lieutenant with a metal bar and hit on his head," he said.

Major General Al Mazeina said after attacking the lieutenant and two other policemen, the prisoner ran away through the nearby construction site. He stole a car near Abu Hail area.

"Police teams chased him until early hours of morning and arrested him at Khatt area in Ras Al Khaimah in coordination with Ras Al Khaimah Police," he said.

He said the three prisoners have been charged with attacking policemen, threatening and resisting police and escaping from legal imprisonment.

"We know that risks and dangers are part of our job and we face many difficulties, but attacking police personnel in this manner requires people who have criminal records and have been in jail for more than 10 years," Major General Al Mazeina said.

He said one of the mistakes committed by the police personnel was not handcuffing the prisoners which contributed in their resistance and escape.

"We have formed a committee headed by deputy director of criminal investigation department to investigate this matter further. Mistakes happen and they teach us so we do not repeat them," he said.

Major General Al Mazeina said if investigations revealed that it was the personnel's mistake, there will be internal procedures against them.

He said the lieutenant suffered a 7cm-long laceration on his scalp and another 5cm-long wound in his hand as a result of the attack with the metal bar.

He is being treated in a hospital and will remain under observation for three days. The other two police personnel suffered minor injuries.