One fugitive from the Al-Waqf police station in Qena was arrested on Saturday after escaping detention along with four others last week, local media reported.
The suspect who was arrested was detained on charges related to narcotics dealing. The four other suspects are wanted in cases of kidnapping, narcotics, and thievery.
A total of five policemen were suspended from their duties until investigations are concluded, including the head of the police station. Three officers were detained as they were interrogated by the prosecution, while the rest were released.
Preliminary investigations, as published by state media, said that the prisoners managed to create a hole in the wall of the bathroom of the detention room and escaped afterwards. Following the prison break, police forces were heavily deployed in the premises of the police station and the village to attempt to capture the fugitives.
A similar incident took place last year in the Ismailia Future Prison, where a jailbreak took place and resulted in the death of an officer. Six inmates fled the prison, rioting as they tried to escape and engaging in an exchange of fire with the police. The six fugitives include three terrorist suspects who were arrested two weeks ago by National Security while trying to smuggle weapons through one of the villages on the borders of Ismailia to North Sinai, allegedly to carry out deadly attacks.
In the aftermath of the jail break, several high-ranking security officials in Ismailia were dismissed or transferred to different positions, including the governorate chief of security and his deputy.
